JOIN USIn perfect golfing conditions, except for a brief drizzle in the morning, reigning all-India amateur champion Chikka totalled 299 for four rounds and beat Chadha by two shots.
Chadha finished at 301, while Chikka’s Bangalore team-mate Khalin Joshi (75) was third at 304. Delhi’s Gagan Verma (74) and Jasjeet Singh (76) tied for fourth at 306.
Chikka began the day four behind Chadha but played consistent golf to grab the title. “It is nice to win another National title,” said Chikka. He opened with four pars and birdied the fifth. He then dropped a shot on the ninth to turn in even par. On the back nine, he dropped a shot on 10th, but quickly got it back on the 13th and added his third birdie of the day on the 17th for 71, which equalled the week’s best of 71 by Angad Cheema on the second day.
Chadha struggled with six bogeys and just one birdie in his 77 as he dropped to second.
Chikka’s splendid card helped Karnataka A win the team championships also. Chikka and Joshi totalled 603 for four rounds, while Chandigarh with Chadha and HS Kang were second at 609.
Delhi’s Sidharth Semwal and Honey Baisoya were third in the team championships at 620. Semwal dropped to 18th, while Baisoya ended sixth.