Mukesh Kumar proved unstoppable on yet another Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour event as he won his seventh title of the season and tenth in 2002 when he pocketed the inaugural Rs One million Tata Steel Open with consummate ease on the final day at the Beldih and Golmuri Club courses, on Sunday.

Despite a double bogey and a bogey in the closing stages, the Mhow-based golfer managed a three-over 73, which gave him a four-day tally of four-under 278. Young Delhiite Ashok Kumar overcame a torrid front nine to finish the day at one-over 71, and was runner-up at two-under 280. Rahil Gangjee (Kolkata) and Amritinder Singh (Chandigarh) were tied for the third place at even-par 282. Amit Khaitan was the winner in amateur category with a tally of 291, and was tied 11th place overall.

Mukesh received Rs 1,62,000 for his effort, while Ashok was richer by Rs 1,12,000. Amritinder and Gangjee got Rs 57,000 each. Prizes were given away immediately after the tournament by Mr B Muthuraman, Managing Director, Tata Steel, who also announced that the Tata Steel Open would become an annual feature on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour.

Mukesh started the day in shaky fashion at the Golmuri Club when he hit his 3-wood tee shot out-of-bounds and wounded up with a double bogey. He followed it up with a bogey from the bunker on the second and the gap between him and Ashok dwindled down to one stroke with 16 holes to play. However, any chances the rest of the field had were quashed soon in emphatic fashion as he slowly found his rhythm. After parring the next four holes, he made a 15-footer birdie putt on the seventh and was one-over at the turn.

In the meanwhile, Ashok dropped out of contention with a bogey on the seventh and a double bogey on the par-3 ninth, where his tee shot got stuck next to the OB wall. The challenge came from behind in the form of the diminutive Rahil Gangjee. The Kolkata pro made birdies on the fourth, seventh and ninth to be just two strokes off the pace after the front nine.

However, Mukesh was majestic the moment he teed off at Beldih. After missing agonizingly close birdie putts on the tenth and 11th, he made back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th, and the contest was virtually over with Gangjee making a bogey on the 11th where he pushed his tee shot into the right jungle. At that point, Mukesh enjoyed a four-stroke cushion over his nearest rival.

On the 14th, Mukesh made a double bogey after hitting his tee shot into the right jungle and his second shot into the hazard. On the 16th hole, he pushed his tee shot way right for an out-of-bound and ended up with a bogey.

With two holes to go, his lead was down to two strokes. A steady Mukesh then parred the next two holes in regulation and won the tournament.

"This one was a bit close. I was a bit apprehensive after the bogey on the 16th, and decided to play it safe on the final two holes. Ashok played superbly in this event and was done in by inexperience. I think he has a great future ahead of him," said the Tata Steel Open champion.

Results (after 72 holes): 278 _ Mukesh Kumar (71,69,65,73); 280 _ Ashok Kumar (69,68,72,71); 282 _ Rahil Gangjee (72,69,70,71), Amritinder Singh (71,70,70,71); 284 _ Shamim Khan (75,68,72,69); 285 _ Indrajit Bhalotia
(72,69,70,74); 288 _ Zai Kipgen (71,69,79,69), Devendra Patel (73,70,72,73); 290 _ Rohtas Singh (70,74,75,71), Yusuf Ali (72,75,71,72); 291 _ SSP Chowrasia (75,70,74,72), Ajay Gupta (77,71,68,75); Amateurs: 291 _ Amit
Khaitan (70,71,77,73).