Arjun Singh wins Hero Honda Open West

Arjun Singh fired a sizzling six-under 66 on the final day to win the Rs One million Hero Honda Open West 2005, the 13th event on the Amby Valley PGAI Tour, at the picturesque Poona Club Golf Course on Friday.

Overnight leader Vinod Kumar, showing the chinks of inexperience, failed to consolidate even as old stalwart Mukesh Kumar raised a last-minute battle, only to finish second behind Arjun, who had a final tally of 13-under par 271.

Gurbaaz Mann, the longest hitter of the ball on the Amby Valley PGAI Tour was third with 8-under par 276.

A hard-working Ranjit Singh was fourth along with Vinod Kumar.

Vijay Kumar putted miserably to finish joint sixth with S Madaiah at 278.

Arjun Singh took home the winner's cheque of Rs 1,62,000 while Mukesh had to settle for the runner-up prize of Rs 1,12,000.

Arjun Singh, the lanky golfer from Delhi, who began the final round three strokes behind the leader, made a bogey on the third while making a birdie on the next. However, he began his onslaught of birdies on the par-5 seventh and rested only when he had secured the winning lead.

Making consecutive birdies on the eighth, ninth, tenth, and 11th , Arjun who is playing only his second tournament on the Amby Valley PGAI Tour, made a superb eagle on the par-5 12th, a resultant of a driver-3-wood combination. The eagle putt gave him a six-stroke lead over the next best players – Mukesh Kumar and Vinod Kumar.

Arjun did teach his younger opponents some lessons in iron-play and accuracy. With a score of seven-under for the day, Arjun had sealed the match by the 13th where he saved a great par from the bunker. However, losing a stroke on the 14th, the twice PGA Championship of India winner missed a small par-putt on the par-3 16th. In fact, even his playing partners Vijay Kumar and Ranjit Singh also missed pars from two feet. However, with a birdie on the easy par-4 17th, Arjun opened up a three-stroke lead.

Meanwhile, in the leader group, the experienced Mukesh Kumar, after a one-over finish in his front nine, waged a late battle firing four birdies in his last five holes, thanks to his putting. He did not miss any putt that was around atleast 15-feet. However, he hit the form a bit late as Arjun, playing a group ahead had tightened his grip on the title by then.

Mukesh's playing partners Vinod Kumar and Madaiah surely succumbed to the pressure for they missed putts narrowly and were wayward in their driving too. The only solace was their short game. A great approach shot on the finishing hole saw Arjun miss a birdie but nevertheless the par gave him his first title of the Amby Valley PGAI Tour 2004-05 season.

"I am damn thrilled at the victory, especially since I had a bad patch in the Asian Tour last season where I could not even keep my card, said the champion.

"The win has come at the right time for I have to start all over again," he added.

The Amby Valley Tour hits the shores of Mumbai next week for the Rs One million Airtel Open.

Patwardhan champion: Jaideep Patwardhan, the Indian National Amateur team captain, playing on his home course took away the honors in the Amateur category with a total of four-over 288 while Tarun Gogle was the runner-up.

Top scores: Pros (after 72 holes): 271_Arjun Singh (68,67,71,65); 273_Mukesh Kumar (69,65,70,69); 276_Gurbaaz Mann (73,65,70,68);  277_Ranjit Singh (68,68,71,70), Vinod Kumar (69,67,67,74); 278_Vijay Kumar (69,66,72,71), S Madaiah (73,69,63,73); 280_Harinder Gupta (73,68,72,67), Shiv Kapur (70,69,70,71); 281_US Mundy (73,68,70,70), Digvijay Singh (70,68,72,71), Ashok Kumar (69,68,73,71); 282_Indrajit Bhalotia (71,70,73,68); 283_Gaurav Diwan (73,69,67,74).

Amateurs: 288_Jaideep Patwardhan (69,74,70,75); 298_Tarun Gogle (73,74,74,77).