 Rashid wins LG Rajasthan Open Amateur by 15 shots A keen fight was on for second place and it was Ajay Singh, who bagged the runner-up place at five-over 275 for the tournament. His round of one-under 69, which was preceded by a two-under 68 in the third round helped him to his best finish on the LG Amateur Tour. Pawan Kumar finished in third place while five players were tied for fourth spot at eight-over 288.
For Rashid, the day started with a win almost certain for him. But with a personal target in mind he started in a determined manner, aiming to get as far ahead as possible. His round was marked by inconsistent hitting and he couldn’t regain his form from the first two days. A bogey came his way on the 11th hole (the leaders started off the 10th). He bounced back with birdies on the 16th and 17th but dropped another shot on the 18th. Two more birdies on second-nine of his round against a lone bogey helped him to ten-under for the tournament, and an impressive victory margin.
Speaking after the round, Rashid said, “It is extremely good for me to win this tournament. I think this golf course is lucky for me because the last time I won here, it was a special occasion for me as I climbed to the number one spot. This time, I managed to win by 15 shots.”
Talking about the round, he said, “I didn’t have a great last two days, and that is what prevented me from posting a lower score. I think my hitting was a little off the mark and that really affected my game. But a score of ten-under is still a good mark and it is my second highest tournament total in India. I hope I can improve and bring in greater consistency into my game.”
But while Rashid was chasing personal glory, there was a very close fight on for second place. For most of the round, it looked like Pawan Kumar would hold on to his position and finish behind Rashid but all that changed on the final hole. With just a par needed to secure his runner-up place he went on the defensive and it cost him dearly as he found the left bunker next to the green, and from there to the bunker on the other side and finally finished with a double bogey, which allowed Ajay Singh to take the second spot. But it was a well-earned position for Singh as he totalled three-under on the last two days to climb up the leaderboard.
The next tournament on tour will be the LG All-India Amateur which will be played at the Oxford Golf & Country Club in February.
Leading Scores:
270 RASHID KHAN 65,66,70,69
285 AJAY SINGH 75,73,68,69
286 PAWAN KUMAR 74,70,68,74
288 SIMARJEET SINGH 74,71,73,70
288 VAROON PARMAR 67,75,75,71
288 IMAMUL HAQUE 70,72,75,71
288 ABHINAV LOHAN 76,71,69,72
288 KARAN TAUNK 72,73,70,73
289 RAHUL BAJAJ 70,74,73,72
291 H.S.KANG 75,69,76,71
292 PARVESH BAISOYA 73,71,76,72
292 KARAN VASUDEVA 72,76,72,72
292 ROMARIO JAMES 76,70,72,74
292 MOIN MALAK 70,76,70,76
293 SAURABH Bahuguna 75,73,76,69
293 SAMARESH SARDAR 76,73,71,73 |
