SSP Chowrasia top ten in Denmark

August 17, 2014

On a day of heavy rain and humid weather, SSP Chowrasia (T9) managed to rein in his nerves and a sluggish course to post a 71 and finish inside the top ten at the Made in Denmark golf tournament in Aalborg. Shiv Kapur (T22) joined in the action on Sunday nearly sneaking inside the top 20 with a composed 70 to complete a good week for India on the golfing circuit. Earlier in the day, Anirban Lahiri capped a good week in Fiji by closing out in T12 at the Fiji International tournament. Marc Warren edged out Bradley Dredge to score a two shot victory at the Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort.

Chowrasia chose to be measured in his approach to the final round, opting to play a safe round and eschew anything fancy as he smelt his chances of a strong finish at the tournament. The 394th ranked golfer began with a birdie at the par-4 first hole, but gave away the advantage almost immediately. The Kolkata golfer made five at the par-4 third hole as he went back to even par for the round.

After making the turn in 35, Chowrasia gained a shot with a birdie at the par-5 eleventh. However, just as he did on the front nine, he gave it straight back making six at the par-5 13th hole. The course wasn’t giving anything away and Chowrasia settled into a careful stride to make five straight pars for an even par 71 to settle for a tie in ninth with five other golfers.

Kapur had a brief dalliance with a spot inside the top 20, but a bogey at the tenth slipped him back to even par and though he managed a birdie at the 14th it was only enough to help the Indian tie for 22nd overall at one-over 285. The 177th ranked Delhi golfer should be satisfied overall with his performance this week, highlighted by a 68 in the second round. Gaganjeet Bhullar, the other Indian to have made the weekend slipped to a 76 that saw him slide 24 spots into a tie for 74th. Jeev Milkha Singh had missed the cut with an insipid showing in the first two rounds.

Dredge made it difficult for himself with a shoddy effort on his outward march – making three bogies in a one over effort through nine holes. Meanwhile, Warren strengthened his grip on the lead with a 33 on the front nine. Dredge made three birdies on the back nine as he launched into a final assault, but a four at the par-3 16th halted his march and it was too much for him to cover the three shot gap between him and Warren over the final two holes.