Mumbai, 06-12-2014
Chikkarangappa successfully defends title at CG Open 2014, leads Rolex Rankings and Super Series
Om Prakash Chouhan shatters course record with sensational 60 to finish runner-up
Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa S successfully defended his title at the Rs. 1 crore CG Open 2014 with a final round of four-under-66 at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club. Chikkarangappa, who totaled 17-under-263 at the penultimate event of the 2014 PGTI Super Series, emerged leader in the Rolex Rankings and the Super Series post his win on Saturday.
Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow shattered the course record with a sensational 10-under-60 in the final round to bag the runner-up position at 16-under-264. C Muniyappa of Bangalore, the overnight leader, finished third at 15-under-265.
Chikkarangappa (67-66-64-66), who began the day in second place, had a steady start with pars on the first three holes before going on a birdie-spree on the fourth, fifth and seventh. He converted two 12-footers on the fifth and seventh.
Chikka’s lead over Muniyappa was reduced to one shot as the former dropped a bogey on the 11th after a poor tee shot. The 21-year-old Chikka bounced back by finding the green in two on the 16th and 18th, both par-5s, to secure birdies and seal his fifth title. Chikka took home a winning cheque worth Rs. 16,16,500.
Chikkarangappa, who was fourth on the Rolex Rankings before the CG Open, has now moved into the lead in the rankings with earnings of Rs. 35,30,444 for the season so far. Om Prakash Chouhan, the runner-up at the CG Open, is placed second in the rankings with earnings of Rs. 29,22,375. There are still three events remaining in the season.
Chikka also zoomed from third place to first position in the Super Series Points table as a result of his win on Saturday. The professional from the Eagleton Golf Resort near Bangalore has 3374.94 points to his credit while second-placed Rashid Khan has earned 3249.50 points so far. The seventh and last Super Series event of the season, the PGTI Noida Masters, will be played at the Noida Golf Course next week. The winner of the Super Series will take away a bonus of Rs. 30 lakh.
Chikkarangappa, who bagged his fourth title of the year, said, “I played a steady round today with five birdies and a lone bogey. The birdies on the front-nine lifted my confidence as I went into the lead. The bogey on the 11th reminded me of last year’s contest between Rashid and me. Rashid had bogeyed the same hole last year and had thereafter lost out to me. I was hoping I could reverse that trend.
“After I birdied the 16th I heard of Om Prakash Chouhan’s 10-under score that placed him in the joint lead with me. I then told myself to just hang in there as I now feel I can handle these crunch situations well. I putted consistently at the end to close the tournament with a birdie and retain the title.
“I’m delighted to win the CG Open for the second year running. This is a special event for me since I won my maiden title here last year. I’d love to keep coming back every year to play the CG Open.
Chikka added, “I feel I need to keep the momentum going over the last three events of the season as I’m right up there in the Rolex Rankings and the Super Series. I just need to stick to my strengths from here on to stay in contention till the end of the season.”
Om Prakash Chouhan (66-64-74-60) shot a sensational 10-under-60 in round three to break the course record of nine-under-61 set by Muniyappa on Friday. The 28-year-old was five-under through six holes thanks to some great iron-shots that landed within a couple of feet of the flag.
Chouhan continued his golden run on the back-nine with birdies on the 12th, 16th, 17th and an eagle on the 18th to race into contention. A great bunker shot set up a tap-in birdie for Chouhan on the 16th. The Mhow golfer, a three-time winner on the PGTI, held the joint lead along with Chikka as soon as he drained the 15-feet eagle putt on the 18th. Chouhan finally finished runner-up as Chikka sank a birdie on the last hole.
Chouhan, as a result of his runner-up finish on Saturday, moved up from fifth to second in the Rolex Rankings and from 19th place to fifth position in the Super Series.
Chouhan said, “After my poor round on day three, I thought I was out of the contest. However, after a great front-nine today, I regained confidence and fancied my chances of finishing on top. My brother and caddie Deepak Chouhan and my good friend and fellow professional Md Nawab informed me that I needed three birdies on the last three holes in order to have a shot at the title. I therefore attacked the pins on the last three and as a result earned two birdies and an eagle. However, I fell just short at the end.”
He added, “Nonetheless, I feel great about breaking the course record and playing some good golf. I’ve had top-10s in the last two events as well and feel I have the rhythm at the moment.”
Third round leader C Muniyappa fired a 69 to claim third place. He missed an eight-feet birdie putt on the final hole by a whisker to slip from joint second to third place at the last moment.
Lucknow’s Sanjay Kumar was fourth at 14-under-266 while Delhi’s Shamim Khan and Mukesh Kumar of Mhow were a further shot back in joint fifth place.
Reigning Rolex Rankings champion Rashid Khan of Delhi secured tied 23rd place at three-under-277.
Final Scores after Round 4:
263: Chikkarangappa S
264: Om Prakash Chouhan
265: C Muniyappa
266: Sanjay Kumar
267: Shamim Khan, Mukesh Kumar
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Kapil Dev (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
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