Press Trust of India
New Delhi, Nov 8: Chirag Kumar produced a sedate two-under 70 in the final round to emerge champion in the $4,00,000 Panasonic Open India tournament, his maiden Asian Tour victory, by three strokes at the Delhi Golf Course (DGC) here Sunday.
Chirag produced three birdies against a lone bogey to end the tournament with a four-day aggregate of 13-under 275, three shots ahead of Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman who both finished at 10-under 278.
Namchok Tantipokhakul of Thailand and Jyoti Randhawa, who won eight times at the Asian Tour, led the charge on the final day as they produced 66 and 67 to sneak into the top five at tied fourth. First-round leader Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka (70) and India’s Shubankar Sharma (69) also shared the fourth place.
Among other Indians, Manav Jaini (68), Shankar Das (69) and Vikrant Chopra (70) also finished inside the top 10 at tied eighth place.
Chirag, who secured his Asian Tour card after finishing tied second at the Venetian Macao Open three weeks ago, parred the first four holes before stumbling on a bogey at the fifth. But he made amends with a birdie at the eight hole to make the turn at even par.
On his way back, the Delhi golfer picked up a couple of strokes at the 11th and 13th holes to hold on to his overnight lead.
“It has been a good show,” stated an ecstatic Chirag after the end of the day’s play. “I was a bit nervous after a bad round Saturday, so I decided to play safe. I was always in control on the final day,” he added.
