Mukesh Kumar wins Servo Masters golf

Mukesh who played to one-over 73 on Sunday, tallied nine-under 279 for the tournament.

The 13th leg of the 2001-2002 Hero Honda Golf Tour, the tournament was played at the par-72 Digboi Club Golf Links.

Delhi's Zai Kipgen and Chandigarh's Harmeet Kahlon finished second five - strokes behind the leader at four-under 284 apiece. Mukesh's elder brother Pune's DS Raghuvanshi was tied for the fourth position with Delhi's Rohtas Singh at three-under 285 while the trio of Uttam Singh Mundy, Yusuf Ali (both Kolkata) and Rahul Ganapathy (Mysore) finished tied-sixth at one-under 287.

Mukesh Kumar is the happiest man in the world.

"I finally broke the voodoo," said a smiling Mukesh, referring to his failure to card a win in the last six tournaments despite finishing in top-five on each occasion.

"It was getting a bit depressing especially after two runner-up finishes," said the winner of this season's TNGF Open, Chennai and Sher-e-Kashmir Open, Srinagar.

On Sunday, Mukesh's opening hole saw him card a morale-breaking triple bogey.

"I was taking my practice swing on my approach shot when my club accidentally broke a twig on a tree, which was original in my line of swing," said the golfer, with a trace of dejection on his face. "However, I decided there and then that I would not let that affect me and win regardless".

Mukesh, after the triple bogey start, went on to drop a shot on the fourth but birdies on the seventh and ninth saw him make the turn at two-over. On his back-nine, he bogeyed the 16th but prior to that an eagle on the 14th, where he found the cup from the green side bunker handed him a final round score of 73 and the winner's cheque of Rs. 1,37,700.

Mukesh, who came into this event as the leader of the Order of Merit further consolidated that position with his earnings now touching a staggering Rs. 1.1 million. Zai Kipgen was smiling all afternoon and why not! The Delhi-based golfer had just pole-vaulted into a tied-second place finish from his overnight tied-seventh position.

"I knew at the back of mind that I had a chance to improve on my position if I returned a decent score," said the ever-smiling 22-year-old. Kipgen, who made an admirable comeback to the Tour this season, after a six-month lay-off due to a near fatal car accident, surprised one and all by winning the Hyundai-MGC Open in Chennai.

"This is my second best finish in a pro-event," said the golfer who took home Rs. 74,375 for his effort.

Kipgen's round saw him drop a shot early on when he bogeyed the second. He however rectified that error with a birdie on the third and another on the fifth to enter his back-nine at one-under. After making the turn, he went on the eagle the 15th courtesy a brilliant 20-feet putt. He then bogeyed the 17th and birdied the final hole of his round.

"I hit my regulations pretty close but there were too many make able putts that were muffed," he concluded after playing to three-under 69.

Kahlon's round of two-under 70 began with a bogey on the first but birdies on the third, sixth and seventh placed him at two-under at the lemon break. On his back nine, the Arjuna Awardee bogeyed the 11th and 15th and birdied the 16th and 18th.

"I am happy to finish second but this is yet another case of my coming really close but failing to cross the final hurdle," said the golfer who also finished second at this season's Hyundai MGC Open in Chennai.

Kahlon was beaten to the post by Zai Kipgen on that occasion.

"I guess it is just a case of hanging in there and the win will come along some day," said Kahlon who earned Rs. 74,375, a sum identical to Kipgen's.

Raj Singh wins amateur title; Raj Singh returned a wire to wire win in the amateur section of the Servo Masters Golf 2001. The local lad who plays most of his golf at the Noida Golf Course, Noida played to four-over 76 today to tally a winning total of 306. Apraup Saikia missed out by a solitary stroke despite returning a three-under 69 to tally 307, while overnight second placed Ajay Barua finished third at 308.

SCORES (after 72 holes): 279 _ Mukesh Kumar (66,72,68,73); 284 _ Zai Kipgen (74,67,74,69), Harmeet Kahlon (70,71,73,70); 285_ DS Raghuvanshi (70,74,71,70) , Rohtas Singh (71,71,71,72) ; 287 _ US Mundy (73,72,75,67) , Rahul Ganapathy (74,74,70,69) , Yusuf Ali (70,73,71,73) ; 288 _ Raju Ali (73,74,71,70) , Feroz Ali (65,73,75,75) ; 289 _ SSP Chowrasia (70,72,74,73) , Basad Ali (75,67,72,75).

Amateurs: 306 _ Raj Singh (76,72,82,76) ; 207 _ Apraup Saikia (81,81,76,69) ; 308 _ Ajay Barua (83,70,78,77)