Mukesh wins title, rookie Saini runner-up on debut

Mukesh Kumar of Mhow today walked away with the title at the PGTI Players Championship at Chandigarh Golf Club after posting an immaculate six-under-66 in the final round here.
Mukesh totaled 13-under-275 for the tournament to register a four-stroke win. Rookie Ashbeer Saini of Kapurthala had a creditable runner-up finish on his PGTI debut with a nine-under-279 total.
Mukesh Kumar (67-67-75-66) made a remarkable comeback after a disastrous 75 in round three to bag yet another title at one of his favourite golfing venues. Mukesh began with a bogey on the first where he found the jungle.
He then added two birdies to his card with putts from 10 and 15 feet on the third and seventh respectively.

The experienced campaigner went on the rampage on the back-nine with five birdies. Mukesh sank an 18-footer for birdie on the 14th and chipped it within a couple of feet for birdies on the 13th and 16th.
He chipped-in for birdie on the 17th and landed his approach shot from 130 yards to within two feet to set up a birdie on the 18th.

"My short-game was fabulous today. I performed really well with the wedges and my chipping could not have been better. Even though I made birdies on the last three holes, the crucial phase for me was from the 14th to the 16th where I all but sealed it. I made a good par on the 15th as well. This is a great start to the year," said 47-year-old Mukesh.

"Ashbeer was outstanding today and did not show any signs of pressure. He has a great future ahead," he said.
Ashbeer Saini (70-68-71-70) carded a bogey-free 70 to earn the runner-up spot in his maiden PGTI event. The 19-year-old could not catch up with Mukesh on the final day but nonetheless had a good outing on Friday with two birdies.
Saini's birdies on the second and 13th came as a result of some brilliant chip-putts.
Chandigarh's Harendra Gupta finished tied third along with Shamim Khan of Delhi at seven-under-281. Faridabad's Abhinav Lohan claimed fifth place at five-under-283.