Feroz Ali wins HT ProGolf title

Feroz Ali, holding steady like the Rock of Gibraltar, withstood an early charge from Gaurav Ghei to win the HT ProGolf 2002 title -- his third in five starts on the Hero Honda Golf Tour -- by a comfortable margin of four strokes at the par-72, 7,343-yard Jaypee Greens Golf Resort, on Friday.

The Kolkata pro tallied seven-under 281 after a final-round score of two-under 70, and walked home with the winner's cheque of Rs 1,29,600.

This was Feroz's third title of the season on the Hero Honda Golf Tour this season and the second in the month of January after the Hero Honda Open in Pune. His other win was in December at the Surya Nepal Masters.

Ghei, despite a scintillating start, finished second with a tally of three-under 285. Lucknow's Vijay Kumar finished third at one-under 287, while the duo of Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) and SSP Chowrasia (Kolkata), tied for the fourth spot at two-over 290. Rahil Gangjee (Kolkata) and Digvijay Singh (Meerut) were tied sixth at three-over 291.

When the day's proceedings began, spectators were given an immediate wake-up call by Ghei, who wasted little time in reducing the overnight four-stroke deficit between him and Feroz to one with birdies on the first, fourth and sixth holes. However, Feroz was unperturbed by the onslaught.

"I was not really bothered. My main aim today was to concentrate on my own game. Though Gaurav made an early charge, I played solid throughout and was fully confident of my imminent victory," said the eventual winner.

After making a lukewarm start to the 2001-02 season, Feroz went back to the drawing board to return with a new putting style which he terms as "pendulum putting".

"I also made a change to my swing and now I am playing better golf than ever before," Feroz said.

Feroz's final round was uncomplicated -- two birdies and no bogeys. He was consistency personified with a string of pars highlighting his front-nine. On his return journey, he birdied the 11th and then the 17th to finish the day at two-under 70.

"This golf course is amazing. We need more such courses in India if the standard of play is to improve," said the '98 Indian Open winner.

Feroz, who also plays on the Asian PGA Tour, compared the Jaypee Greens course to some of the best courses he had played on in the continent.

The India Cements-sponsored Ghei can not be blamed for not trying. He gave the winner a run for his money with a superb front-nine charge.

"When I birdied my opening hole, I didn't read too much into it. Then came birdies on the fourth and sixth. Standing on the seventh tee, I know I had Feroz worried. I felt if I kept hitting good shots I could unnerve him, but things didn't work my way," he said.

"Even when I three-putted the eighth, I was not too concerned. The turning point came on the 13th when I made a good chip-putt for par but Feroz drained a tough 30-feet par putt and I knew it would be difficult after that," concluded the golfer, who took home Rs 89,600.

Gaurav played to two-under 70 today.

Vijay Kumar, the other contender for the title, was done in by his short game. The thrice Order of Merit winner started well enough with birdies on the first and fourth. However, he dropped shots on the fifth and seventh before birdying the ninth. Vijay played his return journey to par with a birdie on the 15th, preceding a dropped shot on the 16th.

"My putting was atrocious today. I three-putted on all my bogey holes," said the dejected golfer, who played to one-under 71.

CHATFIELD WINS AMATEUR TITLE: Australian Garry Chatfield won the amateur title with a tally of 20 over308. Arjun Singh finished second with a tally of 319 after playing to 81 today.

RESULTS (after 72 holes): 281 _ Feroz Ali (72,68,71,70); 285 _ Gaurav Ghei (70,70,75,70): 287 _ Vijay Kumar (70,73,73,71); 290 _ Mukesh Kumar (75,72,72,71), SSP Chowrasia (73,73,73,71); 291 _ Rahil Gangjee (72,71,75,73), Digvijay Singh (73,71,73,74); 296 _ C Muniyappa (79,68,75,74), Shiv Prakash (72,72,7,75); 297 _ Yusuf Ali (70,76,78,73); 298 _ Naman Dawar (75,75,77,71), Gursimran Sethi (74,73,78,73), Amit Dube (75,77,68,78).

Amateurs: 308 _ Garry Chatfield (76,78,78,76), 319 _ Arjun Singh (78,80,80,81)