JOIN USJoshi bags first crown at home
Khalin Joshi realised his long-cherished dream of winning a title at his home Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) course in spectacular style, annexing the Tata Steel Southern India Amateur Golf Championship here on Friday.
In sizzling form right throughout the tournament, the 18-year-old dished out another commanding display on a sun-splashed day, firing an impressive five-under 67 to emerge victorious by a thumping 14 strokes after totaling 17-under 271.
Not only did he equal the margin of victory that he achieved at the Maharashtra Open earlier this season, the teenager who will be turning pro at the end of the season also etched his name in the KGA record books, surpassing Jyoti Randhawa’s tournament course record of 14-under set way back 1998.
“I waited all my life for this,” said an ecstatic Khalin. “I’m really happy at the way it has come. After opening up an eight-shot lead at the end of the third round I was confident of winning. Happy to have completed the job.”
Khalin’s friend-cum-rival S Chikkarangappa, who has never tasted defeat at the KGA since his foray into junior golf, had to play second fiddle this time around, his final-round 73 helping his finish second at 285 while Udayan Mane (73) signed off third a further three shots behind.
Playing with a strong ambition and desire, Khalin announced his intentions in the second hole itself when he sunk a birdie. He picked up a couple of more shots – 6th and 7th – before bogeying at the turn.
Khalin quickly put the disappointment behind with birdies on the 11th and 12th before being offset by a bogey on the 14th.
However, he showed that it was just an aberration with a brilliant eagle on the 15th, following it with a birdie on the next hole.
Victory already confirmed, the youngster eased his foot off the pedal a bit, slipping to bogey-bogey finish but not before creating a slew of records.
Scores (after 72 holes): 271: Khalin Joshi (72, 62, 70, 67); 285: S Chikkarangappa (72, 70, 70, 73); 288: Udayan Mane (72, 66, 77, 73), Simarjeet Singh (72, 71, 72, 73), Honey Baisoya (72, 71, 70, 75); 292: Karan Taunk (77, 72, 72, 71), Manav Das (73, 72, 74, 73); 295: Ankur Chadha (76, 75, 76, 68), Samarth Dwivedi (75, 70, 75, 75).