Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083056991800.htm

Sport - Golf

Rashid Khan clinches title

NEW DELHI: As expected, Rashid Khan claimed the honours in the LG Northern India Open amateur golf tournament after a final round of three-under 69 at the Delhi Golf Club course here on Friday.

Rashid’s aggregate of 279 gave him a seven-stroke victory over Gagan Verma and a maiden title on the amateur tour. Verma, who trailed the champion by five strokes after the second and the third round, was unchallenged for the second spot after shooting a 71. Saurabh Bahuguna came a distant third with a tally of 294.

Rashid also made it to the three-member Indian squad for the Eisenhover Cup to be held in Australia. Verma and Bahuguna were the other members of the team that was chosen on the basis of the performances in the qualifying rounds held on six different courses last week.

The scores: Rashid Khan (70, 69, 71, 69) 279; Gagan Verma (75, 69, 71, 71) 286; Saurabh Bahuguna (71, 77, 72,74) 294; Pawan Kumar Sr. (79, 70, 76,71), Moin Malak (74, 71, 81, 70) 296; Jasjeet Singh (75, 75, 78, 75) 303; Wasim Khan (79, 73, 74, 78), H.S. Kang (76, 73, 83, 72) 304; Kanishk Madan (74, 74, 78, 79), Sidharth Seth (72, 77, 81, 75) 305; Navtez Singh (81, 73, 79, 73) 306; Aditya Singh (81, 76, 73, 78), Simarjeet Singh (81, 76, 80, 71) 308; Abhinav Lohan (77, 71, 81, 80) and Abhishek Jha (80, 76, 77, 76) 309.— Special Correspondent