Chikkarangappa fires 65 to claim two-shot win in Golconda Masters

Bengaluru's Chikkarangappa S pulled out a flawless final round of six-under-65 to emerge triumphant by two shots at PGTI's season-opening Golconda Masters Golf Championship here Saturday.

Chikka's career-graph has been on the upswing since he ended a two-year long title-drought on the PGTI in November last year.

He followed that up with a runner-up finish at an Asian Tour event in Mauritius that helped him seal his card in Asia.

The 25-year-old then posted another second-place finish at the PGTI's season-ending event in December.

On Saturday, Chikka sealed his 12th career win with a score of 20-under-264 at the Hyderabad Golf Club (HGC).

Patna's Aman Raj produced the last day's best round of seven-under-64 to finish joint runner-up at 18-under-266 along with Bengaluru's M Dharma (69).

Chikkarangappa (65-64-70-65), lying tied second, two off the lead, had a roaring start as he landed his second shots within four feet on the first and second to score birdies on both holes and take the early lead even as overnight leader Dharma dropped a bogey on the second.

There was no looking back for Chikka from there on since he added two more birdies on the eighth and ninth, both being tap-ins.

Another fruitful spell came about with birdies on the 11th and 12th where the two-time Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner knocked in his longest putts of the day from nine feet and 15 feet respectively.

Chikka then made pars all the way till the end for a clinical finish as his nearest rivals struggled to catch up.

The Asian Tour regular thus picked up 5 world ranking points in the first ever PGTI event to be part of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system. He also leads the PGTI Order of Merit with earnings of Rs. 6,46,600 from the season-opener.

Chikka said, "I had an outstanding week with as many as 28 birdies. I attribute my performance to my much-improved ball-striking. My tee shots and approach shots were terrific today.

I really wanted to finish well at the HGC as my previous best here had been 10th at the inaugural edition. That thought motivated me to give it my best today since I also knew that I will need a bogey-free effort.

"The win at the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational in Chandigarh in November last year just got me on a roll and put my golfing career back on track. I've been playing some of my best golf since then. This win serves as a perfect start to the season."