Sweet triumph for Vivek Bhandari

Vivek Bhandari steamrolled the opposition to return his first win on the Hero Honda Golf Tour in four years when he won the Rs One million Hero Honda Open with utmost ease par-72, 7,078-yard Karnataka Golf Association course on Saturday.

Bhandari's final round four-under 68 handed him a tally of 13-under 275 for the tournament and the winner’s cheque of Rs 1,62,000. Feroz Ali of Calcutta came from almost nowhere to finish second at seven-under 281 after a final round five-under 67. Vijay Kumar (Lucknow) and Ranjit Singh (Chandigarh) jointly occupied the third spot one stroke behind Feroz at 282. Shiv Prakash (Kanpur), the other golfer to return a five-under 67 today, was joined by SSP Chowrasia (Calcutta) and Yusuf Ali (Calcutta) at tied fifth spot with an aggregate of 283.

Jyoti Randhawa, the pre-tournament favourite, was the lone occupant of the eighth position at 284. Rahul Ganapathy (Mysore) and Amandeep Johl (Chandigarh) finished tied 14th at 289.

"This is an unbelievable experience," gushed an exhilarated Bhandari after sinking his final putt of the day on the 18th green. The win was special in that it ended a four-year title drought for the genial Delhi Golf Club golfer who last won the Honda-Siel PGA Championship way back in 1997.

"I can’t help thinking back to the one year that I spent away from golf. Those were depressing times and I remember wondering how I was going to put things back together," said Bhandari, referring to his one-year lay-off due to a spondylitis problem.

"I slowly recovered my fitness and then I went to the United States where I worked with Pam Barnett, a golf coach in Phoenix. She changed my entire life and my approach to the game. I was too one-dimensional but lead a balanced life now, thanks to Pam. Golf is a lot more enjoyable now," added the champion.

Bhandari had a steady start to his round with a birdie on the fifth and another on the ninth giving him a four-stroke lead at the turn.

"I was pretty much certain after the ninth that unless I did something really stupid, I would win," he said. His return journey card included birdies on the 12th, 14th and 15th and a lone bogey on the 16th, resulting from a missed par putt from less than three feet. "I hit 18 regulations but carded 33 putts. My putting needs to be worked on if I have to do well next week," he added, referring to his trip to Taiwan for an Asian Tour event.

Feroz Ali has been one of the most dangerous players on the Indian circuit. One of the most attacking golfers in the country, Feroz went for the pins today. Starting the day at seventh spot, he went on the rampage nearly upsetting the applecart for Bhandari.

“I was 4-under after eight holes and had I not missed a four-feet birdie putt on the 15th, I would have moved to two-strokes behind Vivek at that stage. This might have put him under pressure,” said the ’98 Indian Open winner who was richer today by Rs 1,12,000.

Feroz started the day with a birdie and followed it up with birdies on the third, fourth, 10th and 12th. An eagle on the 14th set up by a driver, 5-wood combination and culminating in a 15 feet putt was the highlight of his round. His bogeys came on the 11th and 17th. “I have been unwell for the past two weeks," he said, referring to the first two tournaments of the season, The Hindu Open and The Cotton City Open where he finished 21st and 13th respectively. “After my first round 75 here, I decided that come what may, I would go all out. Then I spoke to my wife last evening and she told me not to worry about anything and play my natural game. I owe my second place finish to her,” added Feroz.

SCORES (after 72 holes): 275 _ Vivek Bhandari (71,66,70,68); 281 _ Feroz Ali (75,69,70,67); 282 _ Vijay Kumar (72,71,70,69), Ranjit Singh (67,74,72,69); 283 _ Shiv Prakash (71,74,71,67), Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (70,71,71,71), Yusuf Ali (71,74,66,72); 284 _ Jyoti Randhawa (69.72,68,75); 285 _ Uttam Mundy (73,73,70,69); 286 _ Indrajit Bhalotia (72,72,73,69); 287 _ Digvijay Singh (73,73,70,71); 288 _ Rohtas Singh (73,72,74,69), Shamim Khan (70,72,75,71); 289 _ Rahul Ganapathy (70,71,76,72), Amandeep Johl (75,65,76,73)

Amateurs: 310 _ Sreepada Renu (82,75,79,74); 312 _ Aditya Kanitkar (79,79,74,80).