Thaindian News

Gurgaon, Sep 20 (IANS) Gaganjeet Bhullar extended his winning streak in India to five and at the same time snapped a similar streak going for Jyoti Randhawa as the Kapurthala youngster won the DLF Masters on the Aircel professional golf Tour by five shots at the DLF Golf and Country Club Sunday.
Shooting his fourth straight score in the 60s, the 21-year-old Bhullar knocked in five birdies against one bogey for a 68 that gave him a four-day total of 15-under 273. His teammate from amateur days and co-silver medallist at the Doha Asian Games, Anirban Lahiri carded his best-ever round of six-under 66 to leapfrog to sole second at 10-under 278.

Randhawa, winner of both first and second editions of the DLF Masters, struggled in the heat and admitted to lack of concentration as he went to two-over 74 and for the first time in six starts failed to win a tournament on Indian Tour.

While Jyoti’s five in a row were spread out over three seasons, Bhullar’s five have all come this year.

Bhullar, who left for Japan Sunday night for the Asia Panasonic Open in Kyoto, said, “I would rate this victory as one of my best (win) since I managed to beat Jyoti Randhawa at his home course. It’s turning out to be a great year for me. I was not able to post good scores on the final day in previous seasons but now I have succeeded in sorting out that problem. I have also been able to get over the technical problem of hooking the ball to the left with my tee shots.”

Lahiri, who said that he had made some mental notes for the upcoming Hero Honda Indian Open, said, “This was definitely my best round at this course and I’m very pleased with my second place finish. The best aspect of my game today was my putting. I started badly with bogeys on the first two holes but then pulled it back with an eagle and four birdies over the next seven holes.”

A disappointed Randhawa said he was inconsistent and did not putt well.

“I felt I was not as focused as I should have been. Gaganjeet played some flawless golf. He’s truly a champion in the making.”

Bhullar opened with a bogey on second, and that was his only mistake of the day. He slotted birdies on sixth, seventh and ninth and turned in two-under, by which time he had opened a six-shot lead over his playing partner Randhawa.

Creeping into the second place was Lahiri, who after a bogey-bogey start landed four birdies and an eagle to turn in four-under 32. On the back nine he added three more birdies against one bogey for a total of 66, which raised him to second.

Randhawa had three bogeys in a row from third and turned in 39. On the back nine, the fortunes did not change much with one birdie and rest pars for a card of 74.

Ashok Kumar (69) moved ahead of Randhawa into sole third at nine-under 279, while Shamim Khan (72) tied with Randhawa in fourth place at eight-under 280.

Digvijay Singh (74) was sixth at six-under 282, while Harmeet Kahlon (68) finished tied seventh at the venue of his only Asian Tour win - the 2002 Hero Honda Masters - and with him was SSP Chowrasia (73), who may have ended higher but for his bogeys on 15th and 17th.

Shiv Kapur (71) and C. Muniyappa (71) were tied for tenth at two-under 286.