Gagan, Mithun in title clash at Goodricke Eastern India Open

Kolkata, Dec 24 (UNI) Gagan Verma's brilliant run continued in the on going Goodricke Eastern India Amateur golf tournament as the Delhi lad upset the top seed Abhishek Jha 4&3 to set up a title clash with Sri Lankan Mithun Perera, who upset Jasjeet Singh of Noida 6&4.

In the first semi-final, at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, both Abhishek and Gagan matched shot for shot for the first four holes until the latter made a birdie on the par-4 fifth hole to go 1-up.

However, capitalizing on a bogey by Gagan, Abhishek equalized on the seventh. Gagan wrested the initiative once again winning the very next hole albeit with a bogey to Abhishek's double bogey.

Abhishek, who had shown his brilliant form, was suddenly found his game going astray as he made another bogey on the 11th to give Gagan an advantage. The veteran then made back to back birdies on the 14th and 15th to seal the issue.

In the other semi-final, it was Jasjeet, who called the first shots making a birdie on the par-3 second hole. However, Mithun would allow him just as the stocky lad from the Island of cloves won four consecutive holes from fourth to seventh while making an eagle on the par-5 fourth and a birdie on the next.

Two more successive birdies on the ninth and 10th gave Mithun a 5-up lead and finally closed out on the 14th, courtesy a bogey by Jasjeet.

The final will be a 36-hole affair and considering the progress of both the finalists it sure promises to be an exciting contest.

Results (Semifinals): 12-Gagan Verma bt -Abhisekh Jha 4&3, 7-Jasjeet Singh bt 11-Mithun Perera 6&4.

Final: 12-Gagan Verma vs. 7-Jasjeet Singh.

UNI