Mukesh Kumar walked all over his competition to win the Hyundai-TNGF Open 2004, even as local pro Sandeep Syal set a unique Tour record on the maiden leg of the Amby Valley Golf Tour's 2004-05 season played at the par-72, Cosmo-TNGF Golf Course.
Mukesh who fired a flawless six-under 66 today finished with a tournament aggregate of 16-under 272 which earned him the winner's cheque of Rs 1.62 lacs. Lucknow's Vijay Kumar, who was on the heels of the eventual winner for the majority of the round, finished second five strokes behind at 11-under 277.
Sandeep Syal courtesy a career-best eight under 64 finished tied for third position along with Delhi's Gaurav Ghei at eight-under 280.
Meanwhile, Rafiq Ali, from just a stroke behind Mukesh carded two double bogeys in his first three holes and never recovered thereafter, slipping to the tied-12th position at 283. Asian Games gold medallist and Rookie golfer Shiv Kapur, shot a three-under 69 to finish tied-15th in his maiden Amby Valley PGAI Tour event.
The prizes were given away by HS Song, Deputy MD, Hyundai Motor India Pvt. Ltd after the round.
Sunday will witness the ColorPlus Pro-Am, which has a record amateur entry of 96.
Sandeep Syal was a revelation. The 22-year old Chennai lad set a new Amby Valley PGAI Tour record with eight birdies in succession, starting from the sixth and culminating on the 13th hole.
Earlier, Rahul Ganapathy another South based golfer (Bangalore) had fired five birdies and an eagle in row at the Servo Masters 2002, Digboi on his way to a 12-under 60, which still stands as an Amby Valley PGAI Tour record lowest score in a single round.
"I didn't expect this to happen," said Syal.
"I had birdied three holes and didn't think too much of it but after I chipped in from the bunker on the ninth and then a bad drive on the tenth hit a branch near the OB fence and ricocheted onto the center of the fairway, I knew something special was happening.'
True enough, Syal went on to sink 30, 25 and 40 feet birdie putts on the next three holes.
"I would like to dedicate this achievement to my sponsors ColorPlus, coach Indrajit Bhalotia, my parents and my caddy Dandapani," said the golfer who was actually nine-under on the 17th tee, but went on to drop a shot on that hole. This is incidentally Syal's career best round. His earlier best performance was a seven-under 63 at the HS Doshi Trophy at Guindy a few years ago.
Mukesh Kumar caught fire early with birdies on the second, third, sixth and eighth. On his return journey, Mukesh birdied the 15th and 16th.
"I credit my win to two things. One, practicing my putting on my hotel carpet for two hours last night and the other the return of my caddy Raju. Raju was not with me all of last year and his return has given me tremendous confidence," he said.
"It feels great to win the opening event of the season. As I said yesterday I plan to win at least one more on the
Southern Swing," added Mukesh, who claimed he felt victory, was his for the asking after the 15th hole.
Vijay Kumar tried and tried honestly but his climb was always an uphill one. The 35 year old played his front-nine to two under with birdies on the second, eighth and ninth and a bogey on the fifth.
"I attacked the pin right from the start and even in the back-nine, believed I could catch up with Mukesh," said Vijay.
Birdies on the tenth and 16th, reinforced this belief.
"The 17th and 18th are tough holes and one can easily drop four shots there, but when Mukesh pared the 17th, I lost hope," he added. Vijay went on to drop a shot on the 18th to settle for a cheque of Rs 1.12 lacs.
Ahlawat wins amateur title: Abhishek Ahlawat shot a two-under 70 to win the amateur title at 12-over 300. Karuna Alaganan finished second at 328.
SCORES (after 72 holes):
272 Mukesh Kumar(67,70,69,66); 277 Vijay Kumar(72,69,67,69); 280 Sandeep Syal(71,70,75,64), Gaurav Ghei(68,68,73,71); 281 Feroz Ali(73,68,70,70), Uttam Mundy(69,71,69,72), Amritinder Singh(67,70,72,72); 282 S Madhaiah(67,75,74,66), Amit Dube(66,73,77,66), Mohd. Islam(73,71,69,69), Ashok Kumar(69,72,72,69)
Amateurs: 300 Abhishek Ahlawat(76,74,80,70); 328 Karun Alaganan(81,76,81,90)
