<p>S Chikkaran-gappa kept his brilliant home record intact, winning a fine duel with M Dharma and Rahil Ganjee to emerge triumphant in the PGTI-Eagleburg Masters here on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>With all the three players from the leadergroup in fray for the title almost until the end, the 22-year-old Chikkarangappa found that extra will -- like he always does at his home course The Eagleton Golf Resort -- to complete another emotional victory.<br /><br />Determined not to concede control of his home territory despite struggling with his short game for the better part of the week, Chikkarangappa sank two birdies when it mattered most -- 15th and 17th -- to card a brilliant under-pressure five-under 67 (273) for a two-shot win.<br /><br />Dharma (69), who practiced with Chikkarangappa over the last three weeks under the supervision of Vijay Divecha in a bid to rediscover his ‘A’ game, finished tied second along with Gangjee (70) after failing to nail a single birdie over the last eight holes.<br /><br />The 38-year-old Gangjee, who shot into a surprise one-shot lead ahead of the final round, frittered away the advantage on the opening hole itself when he three-putted for a bogey. He was soon playing catch-up after missing a four-foot par putt on the third hole as Chikkarangappa and Dharma took one-shot lead without doing much themselves.<br /><br />Chikkarangappa and Dharma then took lead alternatively with two birdies each -- the former on fourth and seventh and the latter on sixth and eighth. Gangjee too put himself back in the mix with birdies on the seventh and ninth as a fascinating contest ensued. <br /><br />All three players birdied the 10th but Chikkarangappa sneaked ahead with a fine birdie on the 11th. The youngster, however, put himself in a spot when erroneous hitting cost him a shot on the 14th as he and Dharma stood level on scores.<br /><br />Having waged many a battle, Chikkrangappa quickly put the disappointment of the 14th behind by getting onto the green on the par-5 15th in two shots. He easily two-putted from 50 feet to take one shot advantage and then swung the contest in his favour by driving onto the green on the par-4 17th. He two-putted from 25 feet and then parred the 18th as ace golfer Anirban Lahiri and coach Divecha applauded.<br /><br />“With the way I putted this week, I still can’t believe that I shot a 15-under. I had a good practice session with Anirban and Vijay (sir) yesterday. Both of them suggested some minor adjustments in my putting that worked out well for me. I think the birdie conversion from 12 feet on the fourth was the crucial moment of the day as it lifted my morale early in the round,” said a delighted Chikkarangappa.<br /><br />Leading scores (after 72 holes): 273: S Chikkarangappa (67, 69, 70, 67); 275: M Dharma (65, 73, 68, 69), Rahil Gangjee (68, 72, 65, 70); 278: Abhinav Lohan (72, 65, 71, 70); 279: Manu Gandas (70, 71, 69, 69); 280: Shamim Khan (72, 65, 71, 72), Shankar Das (66, 72, 69, 73).</p>
<p>S Chikkaran-gappa kept his brilliant home record intact, winning a fine duel with M Dharma and Rahil Ganjee to emerge triumphant in the PGTI-Eagleburg Masters here on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>With all the three players from the leadergroup in fray for the title almost until the end, the 22-year-old Chikkarangappa found that extra will -- like he always does at his home course The Eagleton Golf Resort -- to complete another emotional victory.<br /><br />Determined not to concede control of his home territory despite struggling with his short game for the better part of the week, Chikkarangappa sank two birdies when it mattered most -- 15th and 17th -- to card a brilliant under-pressure five-under 67 (273) for a two-shot win.<br /><br />Dharma (69), who practiced with Chikkarangappa over the last three weeks under the supervision of Vijay Divecha in a bid to rediscover his ‘A’ game, finished tied second along with Gangjee (70) after failing to nail a single birdie over the last eight holes.<br /><br />The 38-year-old Gangjee, who shot into a surprise one-shot lead ahead of the final round, frittered away the advantage on the opening hole itself when he three-putted for a bogey. He was soon playing catch-up after missing a four-foot par putt on the third hole as Chikkarangappa and Dharma took one-shot lead without doing much themselves.<br /><br />Chikkarangappa and Dharma then took lead alternatively with two birdies each -- the former on fourth and seventh and the latter on sixth and eighth. Gangjee too put himself back in the mix with birdies on the seventh and ninth as a fascinating contest ensued. <br /><br />All three players birdied the 10th but Chikkarangappa sneaked ahead with a fine birdie on the 11th. The youngster, however, put himself in a spot when erroneous hitting cost him a shot on the 14th as he and Dharma stood level on scores.<br /><br />Having waged many a battle, Chikkrangappa quickly put the disappointment of the 14th behind by getting onto the green on the par-5 15th in two shots. He easily two-putted from 50 feet to take one shot advantage and then swung the contest in his favour by driving onto the green on the par-4 17th. He two-putted from 25 feet and then parred the 18th as ace golfer Anirban Lahiri and coach Divecha applauded.<br /><br />“With the way I putted this week, I still can’t believe that I shot a 15-under. I had a good practice session with Anirban and Vijay (sir) yesterday. Both of them suggested some minor adjustments in my putting that worked out well for me. I think the birdie conversion from 12 feet on the fourth was the crucial moment of the day as it lifted my morale early in the round,” said a delighted Chikkarangappa.<br /><br />Leading scores (after 72 holes): 273: S Chikkarangappa (67, 69, 70, 67); 275: M Dharma (65, 73, 68, 69), Rahil Gangjee (68, 72, 65, 70); 278: Abhinav Lohan (72, 65, 71, 70); 279: Manu Gandas (70, 71, 69, 69); 280: Shamim Khan (72, 65, 71, 72), Shankar Das (66, 72, 69, 73).</p>
