Gujarat Open 2021: Chikkarangaapa has the last laugh

Gujarat Open 2021: Chikkarangaapa has the last laugh

Chikkarangappa, a star Indian player, once again showed his class and added yet another title to his bag of achievements.

The Bengaluru golfer smashed a solid final round score of four-under-68 to earn a remarkable come-from-behind win at the Gujarat Open Golf Championship 2021 on Friday.

The 27-year old Chikkarangappa finished his campaign with a winning total score of nine-under-279 to emerge triumphant by three shots and register his 13th win on the PGTI.

Viraj Madappa of Kolkata carded the last day’s best score of seven-under-65 to finish runner-up at six-under-282.

The first three days leader, Om Prakash Chouhan, who was ahead by a comfortable five-shot margin at the start of the final round, carded a terrible six-over-78 which saw him drop to tied third at the Rs. 30 lakh event.

Along with Chouhan, Sachin Baisoya (68) and Kolkata’s SSP Chawrasia (71) also took a share of third place at five-under-283.

The extremely fit Chikka said, “My hitting had been consistent all week, but I often found myself on the wrong side of the greens. Today, I missed five greens but was on the right side of the greens, so found myself in better positions to make chip-putts. I also hit my wedges really well today.

“I think ‘OP’ (Om Prakash Chouhan) played really well for most of the week, but today he may have felt the pressure after I hit it close on the seventh. His quadruple-bogey there gave me a good chance.

“I recently met the legendary Rahul Dravid in Bengaluru, who has been my mentor for a long time. I told him my plans about how I’m working on my game and my fitness. He complimented me on my fitness, and that was a big motivation for me. Just getting to meet him and talking to him has often helped my confidence.”

Karandeep Kochhar, who finished tied ninth at one-under-287 this week, continues as the PGTI Order of Merit leader with season’s earnings of Rs. 36, 57,130.