Chikka pips Rashid in play-off

Mumbai: Bengaluru’s S.Chikkarangappa defeated Rashid Khan of Delhi in the play-off on the final day of the CG Open to bag his maiden professional title at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club here on Saturday.

It was for the second year in succession that the 22-year-old Rashid lost in the play-off of the tournament. Rashid (64-64-6670) had maintained his overnight three-shot lead till the eighth hole as he and Chikkarangappa (6465-68-67) carded two birdies and a bogey each on the first eight holes.

The tide turned in Chikkarangappa’s favour over the next five holes as Rashid dropped bogeys on the ninth, 10th and 13th, while the former sank a 17-feet birdie putt on the 12th hole.

Chikka thus gained a one shot lead over Rashid by the 13th hole. The Bengaluru golfer maintained his lead till the 17th after both he and Rashid carded birdies on the 16th hole. However, Rashid came back in the contest with a birdie on the 18th hole, thanks to a near-perfect third shot from the fairway. The two golfers, headed for a playoff after ending the regulation 72 holes with matching totals of 16under 264.

Chikkarangappa found the rough and then the bunker during the playoff but recovered well with a 12-feet birdie putt conversion. Rashid, however, missed the birdie after a poor bunker shot handing his rival the title.