Shiv Prakash lifts Cotton City Open

COIMBATORE, AUG. 19. Veteran Shiv Prakash, with an aggregate of two- under 286, won the Rs. 8.5 Lakh Cotton City Open at the Coimbatore Golf club here on Sunday.

The 44-year-old Kanpur golfer, who began the day six strokes ahead of Delhi's Vivek Bhandari and Mohd. Islam, played superbly for his final round of one-over 73 to collect the cheque of Rs. 1,37,700. This is Prakash's second major title after the Wills Northern Open held in Lucknow in November 2000.

Starting the day with a sea of parred holes, Prakash birdied the 9th hole. ``After this birdie, I was convinced that I would win,'' said the champion. A birdie on the 12th preceded a bogey on the 14th with his third birdie of the day on the 15th he was placed at two-under and a six-stroke lead over Vivek Bhandari.

The Delhi Golf Club professional Bhandari posted as many as five birdies in his day's round of 70, but Prakash's overnight lead proved too high a hurdle to cross. ``I was one- over after the fourth hole, which I bogeyed but the only thing on my mind today was to keep the ball in play and card as few putts as possible,'' remarked Bhandari. He went on to birdie the 5th, 9th, 11th, 13th and 16th holes with his other dropped shots coming on the 15th and 17th.

Top ranked golfer on the Indian Tour, Mukesh Kumar, returned a four-under 68 to finish three spots higher from his overnight tied-seventh position. Tied for the fourth spot with an aggregate of 294, was Chandigarh's Amritinder Singh and Patna's Mohd. Islam. The Hindu Open winner Yusuf Ali, finished sixth at 295. Rahil Gangjee, playing only his second pro tournament, came seventh at 296.

N. Maheswaran of Ooty won the amateur title with an aggregate of 309 while Vignesh Ranga Rao finished second at 316. Maheswaran carded a 79 today.

The scores: (after 72 holes): 286: Shiv Prakash (74, 68, 71, 73); 289: Vivek Bhandari (75, 66, 78, 70); 292: Mukesh Kumar (74, 74, 76, 78); 294: Amritinder Singh (73, 74, 74, 73), Mohd. Islam (72, 77, 70, 75); 295: Yusuf Ali (73, 72, 75, 75); 296: Rahil Gangjee (77, 72, 76, 71); 298: Rahul Ganapathy (80, 76, 73, 69), Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (74, 76, 74, 74); 299: Vijay Kumar (76, 73, 74, 76).

Amateurs: 309: (N. Maheswaran (80, 76, 74, 79); 316: Vignesh Ranga Rao (69, 83, 83, 81).

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