Gangjee sights maiden title

Unfazed by a relentless pursuit from three of India’s leading golfers, rookie Rahil Gangjee held his nerve to return an impressive four-under 67 and set himself up for a maiden career title after the penultimate round of the Rs 600,000 HT Pro Golf 2001--Lucknow being played at the par-71, 6,461-yard Lucknow Golf Course on Saturday.

Rahil’s tally stood at 13-under 200.

Mhow’s Mukesh Kumar was placed five-strokes behind the leader at eight-under 205. Delhi's Rohtas Singh occupied the third position at 206 while local hero Vijay Kumar was placed fourth at 207. Another local golfer Jumman was tied fifth at 209 with overnight second placed SSP Chowrasia. Chowrasia was undone by a triple bogey on the newly laid par-five 11th, one of the toughest holes on the course.

Defending champion Shiv Prakash played to two-under 70 and was tied-ninth at 213 with five others.

Gangjee is playing only his eighth professional tournament. The country’s top ranked amateur who took the plunge into professional golf in August 2001 has thus far three top ten finishes to his name but today, the 23-year old Calcuttan looked all set to card his first win.

"When I started off today, I was unsure of how to go about things but the birdie convinced me that the magic was still on," said Gangjee. “I know Mukesh Kumar, Vijay Kumar and Rohtas Singh a really big players but they can’t catch me as my birdies are falling consistently. If something had to happen it would have happened today," he added.

"I played my normal game and that is just what I will do tomorrow," he concluded.

Gangjee, after starting the day with a birdie where he chipped in from the fringe of the green, went on to birdie the 4th, a 20 feet effort, 10th, 11th and 16th. His only bogey of the day came on the 8th.

"I missed a short three feet birdie putt on the on the 7th and though I played well today, that hurt," concluded the golfer.

Mukesh Kumar looked hell bent on winning tomorrow.

"Rahil played very well but though he has a five-stroke lead, I am very much in contention tomorrow," said the current leader of the Order of Merit.

Mukesh, who has won two straight ‘Player of the Year’ awards, is in track for a hat-trick of award wins. This season, he already has two victories under his belt, with back-to-back efforts at the TNGF Open, Chennai and the Sher-e-Kashmir Open, Srinagar.

Today, the 33-year old golfer made a par-bogey start to his round but undid the damage with a birdie on the 3rd. His only other bogey of the day coming on the 6th, Mukesh went on a birdie blitz, with the holes in question, the 7th, 9th, 12th and a chipped in birdie on the 18th.

"I am going all out tomorrow. Putting pressure on Rahil might very well upset his rhythm," he added.

Mukesh played to three-under 68.

Rohtas Singh, who also posted a three-under 68, can credit his round to an eagle on the 12th, where he chipped in from the bunker.

"I made three birdies and two bogeys today but the eagle made all the difference. I now have an outside chance," he said.

Defending champion Shiv Prakash has looked off colour all week. Having taken a break during the Sher-e-Kashmir Open, has proved detrimental to the Kanpur golfer’s game. Currently second on the Order of Merit, Shiv will look to rectify things with at least a top-five finish here.

Nath continues in amateur lead: Arindam Nath continued to lead the amateur field with a tally of 226. At second spot was Rishi Khanna at 232. Nath posted a 78 today.

Scores (after 54 holes): 200_Rahil Gangjee(68,65,67); 205_Mukesh Kumar(68,69,68); 206_Rohtas Singh(71,67,68); 207_Vijay Kumar(69,68,70); 209_Jumman(68,71,70), SSP Chowrasia(66,69,74); 210_Mohd. Islam(71,71,68), Sanjay Kumar(71,69,70); 213_Vinod Kumar (D)(74,70,69), Shiv Prakash(71,72,70), Bhoop Singh(70,72,71), GS Sethi(70,72,71), Shamim Khan(70,72,71).

Amateurs: 226_Arindam Nath(74,74,78); 232_Rishi Khanna(75,76,81).