Bhandari triumphs in a thriller

Vivek Bhandari essayed a superb back-nine charge to emerge victor at the nerve-tingling final round of the Rs 700,000 Noida Open Golf Championship 2001, on Sunday.

Bhandari’s final round five-under 67 handed him a winning tally of 19-under 269 and the first prize cheque worth Rs 1,13,400.

The ninth leg of the Hero Honda Golf Tour, the tournament was held at the par-72, 6,940-yard Noida Golf Course. The tournament was jointly sponsored by Noida Authority and Oil India Limited.

A mere one-stroke behind the leader at 18-under 270 was second placed Mukesh Kumar.

Kanpur’s Shiv Prakash finished third at nine-under 279, while the trio of Indarjit Bhalotia, Basad Ali (both Calcutta) and Rohtas Singh (Delhi) finished tied-fourth at four-under 284. Delhi’s Arjun Singh finished seventh at 285.

"If yesterday was one of the best rounds of golf I ever played, today was even better," was how Vivek Bhandari summed up his victory.

Not one soul in the huge crowd following the leader group would have disagreed with him. Indeed things were in the balance till the very last putt was sunk.

Mukesh Kumar was the man in charge for a large part of the day. The Mhow golfer wasted little time in increasing his overnight one-stroke lead to two with a birdie on the opening hole.

"I wasn’t too concerned by Mukesh’s early charge. In fact we were tied after nine holes," said Bhandari.

At about this time there was tremendous excitement at the Golf Club and a huge number of people flocked to watch as the battle entered its second stage.

Mukesh Kumer once again asserted his superiority with back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th. The birdie on the 11th was the result of an unbelievable 40-foot left to right putt.

"That was a fantastic effort. I began to worry a bit after that putt as he (Mukesh) was on a roll," said Bhandari.

However, the tide changed in favour of the Delhi Golf Club pro almost immediately after. Mukesh dropped a shot on the 12th following it up with another bogey on the 13th.

"After his second bogey, I knew I had a chance," said Bhandari. His confidence restored, Bhandari birdied the 14th and 15th to further widen his lead. “On the 14th I missed an eagle as my approach shot hit the pin and rolled to 5 feet away," he said. Thereafter, even Mukesh’s birdie-birdie finish, could not prevent Bhandari from winning.

There was, however, a slight hiccup on the final hole where with Mukesh birdying the hole, Bhandari left his birdie putt five feet short. Sinking the winning putt amid pin drop silence he wrapped up his second title in three appearances on the Hero Honda Golf Tour.

"Winning the Hero Honda South (Bangalore) was a great feeling since it was my first win in four years but this win is special as I beat a worthy competitor on a superb golf course. Most of the credit for the entertaining golf this week should go to the quality golf course we played on. I look forward to playing here again," said the Bharat Petroleum-sponsored golfer.

Bhandari’s bogey-free 67 contained birdies on the 4th, 8th,9th,14th and 15th.

"I don’t know whether to laugh or cry," said Mukesh Kumar. The Mhow golfer, who posted back-to-back wins at the TNGF Open, Madras, and the Sher-e-Kashmir Open, Srinagar has thrice thereafter fumbled at the final stage, with one fifth-place and two runner-up finishes in three weeks.

"My game is better than it has ever been. It is just silly mistakes and excellent golf by my competitors that has shown me the door," said Mukesh.

Today it was both. Mukesh,, looking to accelerate after the 11th wound up bogeying the 12th and 13th instead. This he followed up with another bogey on the 15th.

"I feel the bogey on the 12th was the turning point. Bhandari just caught fire after that," he said.

Still the Order of Merit leader, the 32-year old Mukesh earned Rs 78,400 for his effort.

"I love this golf course and it is really disappointing not to win here," he said.

Earlier Mukesh, who played to 69, bogeyed the 5th while birdying the 1st, 8th and 9th.

Luthra wins amateur title: Amit Luthra won the amateur title with a four day tally of seven-over 295.

Vikrant Chopra at 298 finished second, while Simarjeet Singh and Saurav Bahuguna were tied- third at 299.

Scores (after 72 holes): 269_Vivek Bhandari(65,71,66,67); 270_Mukesh Kumar(71,66,64,69); 279_Shiv Prakash(70,69,68,72); 284_Rohtas Singh (72,69,71,72), Indrajit Bhalotia(72,71,69,72), Basad Ali(73,68,70,73); 285_Arjun Singh(74,71,70,70); 286_Harmeet Kahlon(75,67,72,72); 287_US Mundy(70,75,68,74), Digvijay Singh(73,67,73,74); 288_Vijay Kumar(73,68,74,73).

Amateurs: 295_Amit Luthra(73,74,78,70); 298_Vikrant Chopra(76,77,72,73); 299_Simarjeet Singh(73,77,75,74), Saurav Bahuguna(73,76,73,77)