Bhullar pips Lahiri in play-off to win Sahi Amateur golf

Chandigarh , Nov 24 (UNI) Gaganjeet Bhullar bounced back in style to pip Anirban Lahiri on the first play-off hole to claim the Royal Challenge Samarvir Sahi Amateur Golf Championship here today.

Trailing Lahiri by four strokes after 54 holes, Bhullar of Kapurthala shot a final round of two under 70 to finish the event with a tally of 284. Lahiri carded a two-over 74 today to tie with Bhullar with an identical total of 284.

In the ensuing play-off, Bhullar managed a par while Lahiri missed an easy four feet putt to hand over the title to Bhullar.

Joseph Chakola shot a final round of level par 72 to finish third at 292, while Simarjeet Singh who also finished with the same aggregate lost out on a better back nine score by Chakola. Saurabh Bahuguna finished fifth with an aggregate of 293 after shooting a final round of 73, while H S Kang shot a superb two-under 70 to finish sixth at 295.

Bhullar started on a sedate note and after eight consecutive pars fired a birdie on the par-four ninth to turn at one under. On the back nine, the Punjab gofer fired consecutive birdies on the 12 th and 13th to take a two- stroke lead over Lahiri after 14 holes.

Lahiri, who started well with a birdie on the second, dropped shots on the third, fourth, 10th and 14th. A double bogey by Bhullar on the 15 th cost him, as Lahiri inched ahead courtesy a birdie on that very hole. Bhullar, however had other ideas as he birdied the 17th to level the score to force a play-off.

This is the fifth title for Bhullar this season. Earlier, he had won the Eagleton Amateur, Bangalore, Northern India Amateur, Jaypee Amateur and Golden Greens Amateur titles.

SCORES (After 72 holes): 284 Gaganjeet Bhullar(70, 75, 69, 70), Anirban Lahiri(71, 70, 69,74); 292 Joseph Chakola(78, 72, 70, 72), Simarjeet Singh (71, 75, 71, 75); 293 Saurabh Bahuguna (78, 72, 70, 73); 295 HS Kang (79, 75, 71, 70); 296 Jasjeet Singh (72,73, 74, 77); 298 Karan Vasudeva (78, 74, 74, 72); 300 Moin Malak (74, 79, 77, 72), Pawan Kumar (77, 78, 72, 73), Tarun Goghale (78, 76, 72, 74); 301 Raj Randhawa(77, 76, 74, 74), Balpreet Singh Ghuman(72, 74, 79, 76).

UNI XC HS AY BST1853