Rahil Gangjee delights home crowd with five stroke victory

Kolkata, Jun 21 (UNI) Rahil Gangjee posted a five stroke win at the PGTI Players Championship at Royal Calcutta Golf Club today.

Gangjee's tournament total of nine under 234 helped him record his first professional victory since the Asian Tour's Volkswagen Masters China 2004.

The Kolkata golfer's final round of four under 65 also happened to be the best score of the day. Secunderabad's Anirban Lahiri and 2006-07 PGTI Order of Merit winner Ashok Kumar finished joint second with an overall score of four under 239.

SSP Chowrasia and Delhi-based Himmat Singh Rai were a further stroke behind in tied fourth place.

The par for the course in round four was 69.

Rahil Gangjee won his first PGTI title after posting scores of 34, 69, 66 and 65 through the week.

In the final round, the 29-year-old was in total control of the situation from the very outset. He began well by sinking a long putt for birdie on the par three second hole.

Things got even better as Gangjee holed a 25 feet putt to save par on the fourth after having played an ordinary chip shot. He then dropped a bogey on the seventh but soon recovered with a birdie on the very next hole.

On the back nine, Gangjee, who pocketed Rs 4,84,950, kept the momentum going with seven pars and birdies on the 13th and 14th.

Gangjee now moved to eighth on the 2007-08 PGTI Order of Merit.

Anirban Lahiri was second along with Ashok Kumar at four under 239.

Lahiri, who had won PGTI's Qualifying School last year shot scores of 38, 66, 67 and 68 this week. In the final round, Lahiri made an eagle on the par five fourth, birdies on the fifth, 15th and 17th, bogeys on the 14th and 18th and a double bogey on the 12th.

Ashok Kumar (34, 67, 70, 68) joined Lahiri in tied second place.

His round of one under 68 on Saturday was marked by birdies on the fourth, eighth, 13th, 15th and bogeys on the second, sixth and seventh.

Indian Masters champion SSP Chowrasia (35, 70, 68, 67) was tied fourth at three under 240. His final round of 67 was highlighted by birdies on the sixth, ninth, 10th, 16th and a double bogey on the seventh. Himmat Singh Rai (39, 68, 65, 68) shared fourth place with Chowrasia.

Kolkata's Akshay Butta (37, 72, 71, 73) took home the amateur's trophy as his total of 10 over 253 was the best amateur score. His final position was tied 38th.

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