Lahiri sizzles to win PGTI year-ending by four shots

Kolkata: Bangalore-based Anirban Lahiri registered an impressive four-shot victory over his good friend and 'host' Rahul Gangjee to take top honours at the Rs 1.35 crore McLeod Russel Tour Championship at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club here today.

Bengal lad Lahiri came up with a three-under-69 in the final round of the PGTI's year-ending championship to end the week with a total of 17-under 271 to clinch his maiden professional title at the RCGC and 13th overall.

Gangjee, who is playing host to Lahiri at his Alipore residence during the tournament, finished runner-up at 13-under-275.

Overnight leader by three strokes, the three-time Asian Tour winner had an early hiccup in the final round as he double-bogeyed the second after his second shot ricocheted off a water sprinkler.

The 26-year-old then got into his stride with birdies on the fourth, fifth, ninth, 12th, 16th and 17th to wrap up his fourth title in the year that includes one on the Asian Tour.

In fact, the birdie on the ninth hole, where Gangjee bogeyed was the turning point of the game as Lahiri increased the lead.

Lahiri's putter was on fire as he sank birdie putts from 15 to 20 feet on the fifth, ninth, 16th and 17th. He also landed his approach within two feet for a tap-in birdie on the 12th.

Lahiri's only error on the back-nine was the bogey on the closing 18th as he missed on to finish with a five stroke win.

Gangjee (70-68-68-69) had an eventful front-nine where he made five birdies and three bogeys.

He had a relatively quieter back-nine with two birdies and a bogey.

Gangjee was a threat to Lahiri in the initial stages of the round as he made some long putts on the first, second and fifth.

However, bogeys on the eighth, ninth and 12th pulled him back and he ended up with a three-under-69 for the day.

Abhinav Lohan of Faridabad and Delhi's Chiragh Kumar finished tied third at 10-under-278 while Jyoti Randhawa was a further shot behind in fifth place.

Gaganjeet Bhullar and Chikkarangappa of Bangalore were in tied eighth at six-under-282.

Defending champion SSP Chowrasia finished in 17th place with a total score of two-under-286.

Rashid Khan wins PGTI Order of Merit

Rashid Khan wins PGTI Order of Merit

Kolkata: Rashid Khan claimed number one position on the 2013 Rolex Rankings, the PGTI Order of Merit, after finishing sixth at the McLeod Russel Tour Championship at the RCGC today.

Last year's runner-up, Rashid earned sixth place at eight-under-280 to end up in number one position in the PGTI Order of Merit for 2013.

The Delhi lad, who posted 10 top-10s including two wins in 2013, finished the year with earnings of Rs 46,38,284 to seal the title.

His tied eighth place finish in the Year-Ending championship meant S Chikkarangappa of Bangalore was second on the Order of Merit with earnings of Rs 32,65,313.

"It's been a highly satisfying year for me. I won two events and was in contention in a number of events," a delighted Rashid said.

"Importantly, I've improved on last year when I finished second in the rankings. This is a huge boost for me as I'll be playing as a full-card holder on the Asian Tour next year."

Fondly called 'Chikka', who had one win and nine other top-10s in the season, also won the Emerging Player of the Year race as he recorded the maximum earnings among all the rookies in the 2013 season.

"When I began the year my target was a top-10 finish on the Order of Merit... But as the year progressed, I thought I had a realistic chance of finishing in the top-3 for the season.

"I'm delighted that I managed to finish second on the rankings and win the Emerging Player race as well. The rookies were very strong this year and coming out on top among the rookies is special.

"My putting was the highlight of the season. I really started putting well midway through the year when I started using a new putter," Chikkarangappa said.

Angad Cheema of Panchkula ended up in second position in the Emerging Player of the Year race with earnings of Rs 26,50,448.

Order of Merit

1 Rashid Khan (Del; Rs 46,38,284); 2 S Chikkarangappa (Ban; Rs 32,65,313); 3 Angad Cheema(Panchkula; 26,50,448); 4 Shamim Khan (Del; Rs 26,08,508); 5 Mukesh Kumar (Mhow; 22,59,917); 6 Chiragh Kumar (Del; 21,30,135); 7 Mohammad Zamal Hossain Mollah (Bangladesh; 19,06,180); 8 M Dharma (Ban; 18,21,539); 9 Shankar Das (Kol; 16,41,278); Abhijit Singh (Chandi; 15,11,702).

Lahiri to keep McLedo Russel trophy at grandparents house

Lahiri to keep McLedo Russel trophy at grandparents house

Kolkata: A 'veteran' of 13 titles with his maiden triumph at home, Anirban Lahiri will not take away the glittering McLeod Russel Tour Championship Trophy to Bangalore where he is based.

Instead, Lahiri today said he would keep it at his grandparents place at Salt Lake here.

All excited to win his maiden title at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, a place where he's been coming since he was 11, Lahiri said: "This title is all for my grandparents who are no more."

Terming this a dream home coming, Lahiri added, "Forget winning, I've not yet come close to winning here... I've been playing here since I was 11-years-old... I'm happy to have come back winning at home in the 15th year."

Lahiri remembered his grandparents who are no more and chose to dedicate the title to them.

"I remember coming here to my grandparents place in Salt Lake and coming here to play golf. This time, they are not with me so it's for him. I'm not taking the Trophy back to Bangalore. This will stay here (at my grandparents place in Salt Lake)."

Lahiri had to overcome a right knee ligament injury in August as he went on to win three titles on the PGTI Tour and one on the Asian circuit.

Terming 2013 as the best year, Lahiri, who has 13 professional titles already, said: "I feel like a veteran at 26... The 2013 season has been my most consistent season so far as I won four titles this year...

"My golf and my physical conditioning improved by leaps and bounds this year. The win today gives me a further boost for the coming season. McLeod Russel has set the benchmark in India as far as domestic events are concerned. It's a great tournament, very well organized and at par with some of the top events that I have played abroad," added Lahiri, who took home a cheque worth Rs 21,39,750.

Overnight leader by three strokes, Lahiri started poorly with a double bogey on the second but he regained his touch with birdies on the fourth, fifth, ninth, 12th, 16th and 17th to edge out Rahil Gangjee for the top spot by four strokes.

"The double-bogey early on made me focus better as it shook me up. I focussed really well thereafter and holed almost everything on the greens.

He birdied on the ninth where as Gangjee slipped with a bogey in what became the turning point in the battle between the duo for the top spot.

"The birdie on the ninth was the turning point of the day as it increased my lead from one shot to three shots since Rahil bogeyed the same hole. The birdie on the 12th was crucial as well as it helped me further expand my lead to five shots."

Gangjee said: "It looked like I would shoot a six-under when I began the round but I'm glad that I gave it my best and at least shot a three-under. Nonetheless, was great to perform well in front of my home crowd. It was an emotional moment for me as I was missing my father who passed away recently. He used to follow me when I played events at the RCGC."