Mukesh Kumar blasted an Amby Valley PGAI Tour record four-day aggregate of 30-under 250 to notch his sixth Amby Valley PGAI Tour title win at the DDA Open Golf Championship 2005, played at the par-70, Qutab Golf Course on Saturday.
Mukesh's effort, which included a Tour record-breaking round of 59 on Friday and culminated in a 63 today, saw him better the 26-under by Jeev Milkha Singh at the Phillip Morris Championship in 1996 (on the Asian PGA Tour), till today the best ever tournament aggregate by an Indian.
Mukesh missed by a single stroke the record tournament aggregate on the US PGA Tour, set by Ernie Els at the Mercedes Championship.
With this win and the winner's cheque of Rs 1,62,000, Mukesh took his season's earnings tally to a staggering Rs. 24,00,100, a record figure in the history of the Amby Valley PGAI Tour.
Kolkata's Yusuf Ali and Jaipur's Vishal Singh, both of whom fired identical rounds of five-under 65 to finish at 24-under 256 for the week, shared the second place, pocketing Rs 87,500 each.
Delhi's Vinod Kumar was placed fourth as he returned a card of 10-under 260,to tally 23-under 257. He incidentally also fired the best round for the day.
Kolkata's Rafick Ali played better golf today as he returned with a card of five under 65 to tally 21-under 259 and was placed sixth.
Mukesh, the Mhow-based golfer who gives the credit to unstoppable performance to his brother and fellow golfer DS Raghuvanshi, had to face a little difficulty because of his putting today. He made birdies on the third, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 11th, 13th, 14th and on the 15th holes including two bogeys on the 12th and the 16th holes.
"I am very happy with this win and it is only because of my brother D S Raghuvanshi and his coaching me over my putting, that I have achieved such a feat. Today I played a free game and I was not at all under pressure," said the elated golfer.
Meanwhile, Vishal Singh, who returned a card of five-under 65, started on a low note as he made a bogey on the second hole. He then made consecutive birdies from the third to the fifth holes on the turn. He made an eagle on the 11th hole, which left him short by three strokes to Mukesh Kumar. He then sank another birdie-putt on the 14th followed by a bogey on the 17th hole.
Yusuf Ali of Kolkata also played a consistent game as he maintained his tied second position through all the four rounds. He returned with a card of five-under 65 to tally 24-under 256 at the end of 72 holes. Hi fired six birdies and a bogey in todayâs round. âI played well today.
Vikrant Chopra emerged the winning amateur as he returned with a card of two-under 68 to tally 16-under 264 at the end of the final round followed by Ajeetesh Sandhu, who after submitting a card of six-under 64, finished his 72 holes to tally 15 under 265 secured the 14th position.
Top Scores (After 72 Holes): 250_Mukesh Kumar (64,64,59,63); 256_Vishal Singh (65,64,62,65), Yusuf Ali (62,64,65,65); 257_Vinod Kumar (66,66,65,60); 258_Gurbaaz Mann (67,66,62,63); 259_Rafick Ali (61,64,69,65); 260_Ashok Kumar (63,65,67,65); 262_SSP Chaurasia (65,65,68,64); 263_Feroz Ali (66,66,68,63), Amardip Sinh Malik (67,66,62,68), C Muniyappa (62,64,69,68).
More from rediff