Date:27/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/27/stories/2008052759861700.htm

Sport - Golf

Randhawa finishes tied fifth

Virginia Water (England): Jyoti Randhawa turned in a steady two-under 70 in the final round to finish a creditable fifth at the BMW PGA Championship here.

Randhawa signed off with a four-day total of eight-under 280, just three strokes behind winner Miguel Angel Jimenez (68) of Spain.

Overnight tied fourth, Randhawa was off the blocks with a birdie-brace on the fourth and fifth hole.

The Delhi-golfer then parred the remaining holes to complete a flawless front nine.

Randhawa’s backward journey, however, turned out to be a roller-coaster ride as he sank in a couple of birdies against an equal number bogeys.

The former Asian Tour No. 1 stroked a birdie on the 12th but a bogey on the very next hole brought him back to square one.

This was followed by a similar birdie-bogey finish on the 15th and 16th.

Meanwhile, in a thrilling finale at the top, Jimenez beat Englishman Oliver Wilson (68) in a play-off battle after the duo was tied at 11-under.

Luke Donald (65) and Robert Karlsson (74) shared the third spot.

Arjun Atwal turned in his best card of the week — a two-under 70 in the final round — to rise five places and sign off tied 25th in the Melwood Prince George’s County Open on the Nationwide Tour at Woodmore in the U.S.

The Orlando-based golfer ended his campaign with a total of four-under 284.

In what turned out to be an eventful day for the former Asian Tour number one, Atwal picked up two strokes between the fourth and sixth holes before dropping a bogey on the seventh to make the turn one-under.

On his way back, Atwal began with a birdie on the 10th before stumbling to a bogey on the 12th.

This was followed by a birdie-brace on the 13th and 14th but Atwal undid the good work with back-to-back bogeys on the 15th and 16th before rounding off the roller-coaster day with a birdie on the 17th.

Meanwhile, American Jeff Klauk lifted the title with a total of 12-under 276 after returning a three-under 69 in the final round.

Klauk’s compatriots Jeff Brehaut (67) and David Mathis (70) followed him a stroke behind for a share of the second spot. — PTI