Chikkarangappa edges out Rashid in playoff to win maiden title

Rookie Chikkarangappa S of Bangalore upstaged pre-tournament favourite Rashid Khan of Delhi in a playoff to bag his maiden professional title at the Crompton Greaves Open 2013 at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club here today.
It turned out to be a day of twists and turns. Rashid Khan (64-64-66-70) maintained his overnight three-shot lead till the eighth hole as both he and Chikka (64-65-68-67) made two birdies and a bogey each on the first eight holes.
The tide turned over the next five holes. Rashid dropped bogeys on the ninth, 10th and 13th as a result of a few missed putts and a poor tee shot, while Chikka sank a 17-feet birdie putt on the 12th. Chikka, thus went ahead by one shot on the 13th.

Chikka stayed ahead by one till the 17th after both he and Rashid made birdies on the 16th. Rashid, however, came back in the contest with a birdie on the 18th thanks to a near-perfect third shot from the fairway that landed within a foot of the flag.
Chikka, on the other hand, missed an up and down for birdie from the bunker wall on the 18th. The two golfers, who have grown up playing against each other on the junior and amateur circuits, headed for a playoff after ending the regulation 72 holes with matching totals of 16-under-264.
The 20-year-old Chikka, who hails from the Eagleton Golf Resort near Bangalore, sealed the deal on the first playoff hole against 22-year-old Rashid, who lost a playoff at the CG Open for the second year in succession.

Chikka found the rough and then the bunker during the playoff but recovered well with a 12-feet birdie putt conversion.
Rashid on his part missed the birdie after a poor bunker shot.