Second career title for Sanjay Kumar

CALCUTTA, DEC. 9. Sanjay Kumar shot a four-under 68 on the final day to lift the Rs. 8.5 lakh Servo Masters golf tournament title at the Digboi Club Golf Links in Digboi on Saturday.

The Lucknow professional ended the four-day tournament at 10- under 278 to win a cheque of Rs. 1,37,700. This was his second career crown, the first one being at the 1998 Color Plus Open in Chennai, according to information reaching here.

Six-strokes adrift at second place was Bangalore's Rahul Ganapathy. The reigning all-India amateur champion who turned professional this season, carded a superb three-under 69 to take home Rs. 95,200.

Yusuf Ali of Calcutta finished third at two under 286. Rookie Praduman Guleria of Delhi also recorded his career best finish by occupying the fourth place ahead of defending champion Rohtas Singh and Mukesh Kumar, who were tied for the fifth place at one- over 289 along with Mohammad Islam of Patna. Guleria brought in a three-over 75 to aggregate 288 which was level par for the course.

Birdies on the third and fourth holes gave Kumar, a three-stroke leader overnight, the needed impetus to tighten the grip over the title. He made back to back birdies on the seventh and eighth to end the first nine at four under. He added two birdies and as many bogies on the back nine. ``I was thrilled with the win which has helped me to end a long dry spell,'' said an elated Kumar.

Rohtas Singh shot three over 75 while Mukesh Kumar, the first two day's leader, shot a disappointing 76.

The scores (after 72 holes): 1. Sanjay Kumar 278 (72, 70, 68, 68); 2. Rahul Ganapathy 284 (73, 66, 76, 69); 2. Yusuf Ali 286 (72, 74, 69, 71); 4. Praduman Guleria 288 (76, 66, 71, 75); 5. Mohd. Islam 289 (77, 71, 70, 71), Rohtas Singh (71, 68, 75, 75), Mukesh Kumar (68, 70, 75, 76); 8. Asgar Ali 291 (73, 73, 73, 72); 9. Ali Sher 292 (75, 73, 73, 71), Harmeet Kahlon (71, 69, 73, 79); 11. Shiv Prakash 293 (71, 72, 75, 75), Monish Bindra (72, 72, 73, 76). Amateurs: 1. Ajay Baruah 312 (79, 79, 78, 76); 2. Aparup Saikia 324 (87, 79, 78, 80).

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : That little friend
Next     : PSB sinks Hyderabad