Report by Anand Datla
October 17, 2014: A nervy Khalin Joshi survived an edgy final round performance to claim a comfortable victory in the PGTI PLayers Championship. The 22 year old was playing off a three stroke cushion that he earned at the end of the third round, but a double bogey six at the fourth hole gave away the young man’s palpable tension. But with second placed Abhijit Singh Chadha unable to exert any pressure, the golfer from Bengaluru kept chipping away to take the title by two shots. The baby faced Joshi clinched his maiden PGTI Tour victory by protecting his lead through the final day.
Joshi’s best finish came at the PGTI Pahalgam Masters in July this season, where he finished second. But starting already with a scent of victory filling his nostrils, Khalin was understandably nervous as he walked the course with a comfortable lead. Joshi was one over for the day when he made the turn in 37, making two birdies, a double bogey and a bogey along the way.
Meanwhile, the pressure on Joshi eased a little when Chadha made bogeys at the 7th and 10th holes. But after regaining control with birdies at the 14th and 16th, Khalin seemed set to implode when he made an unseemly seven at the par-5 17th hole. The 22 year old recovered his composure though to finish with a par at the final hole to clinch victory over the man from Chandigarh.
Abhijit had his chances in the final round, especially since the leader was suffering a poor run on the front nine. However, after making six straight pars to start his day, Chadha surrendered two shots in the space of four holes to let his struggling opponent off the hook.
Angad Cheema was two under through eight holes, but a double at the turn returned him to even par for the day. Another 36 on the return stretch meant, he too signed on a 72 to settle for a tie in third with Ashok Kumar. Both men finished at 4-under for the week.
Abhinav Lohan, the leader at the end of the first day continued to slip down the order. After a 67 and 70 in the first two rounds, Lohan made a 74 on Thursday to slip out of contention. Things got worse from there as he made four bogeys and a double bogey at the final hole to score a 75 and take fifth place.
Shamim Khan, two under and Shankar Das, one under were the only other men to finish under par for the week. With the course at the Noida Golf Club playing tough, there were just six scores of better than par at the Players Championship.
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