Mukesh triumphs at ONGC-NGC Open

Mukesh Kumar continued his love affair with the Noida golf course carding his second win in three appearances at the course with an aggregate of six-under 282 at the Rs 700,00 GAIL co-sponsored, ONGC-NGC Open golf championship 2000, the tenth leg of the 2000-2001 season of the Wills Sport Golf Tour, being played on at the par-72, 6,978-yard Noida golf course. The event was also co-sponsored by Oil India Ltd and BPCL.

Vijay Kumar was placed second at four-under 284 while Ranjit Singh slipped out of the top spot for the first time in four days to finish third at three-under 285. Shiv Prakash was placed fourth at one-under 287. Little known Vinod Kumar of Delhi recorded his best ever tournament performance, finishing joint-fifth with the round-one joint-leader Vishal Singh at level-par 288. Vinod carded a final round score of three-under 69.

Mukesh Kumar didn’t exactly burn the course on Sunday. For that matter he didn't event break par. However, his final day's score of one-over 73 proved to be good enough to hand him a comfortable win, his first of the season.

Last season's ‘Player of the Year’ award winner, Mukesh was struggling with both form and confidence this season and this win comes as the perfect shot in the arm for the Mhow based golfer.

"This win has restored my confidence and I will certainly be gunning for the “Player of the Year’ award once again," said the 33-year-old.

Mukesh had a good start to his round with a birdie on the 1st. This followed by a sea of pared holes saw him finish his front nine at one-under. On his return journey, he missed a four-feet par putt on the 13th to drop his first shot of the day.

A birdie on the 14th was followed by another bogey on the 15th with Mukesh’s closing his day’s round with a missed five feet par –putt.

"The Noida Golf course is in excellent condition. I feel I will win each time I play this course," said Mukesh who earned Rs 1,13,400 for his win..

Vijay Kumar started the day with back-to-back birdies but a bogey on the 3rd, the result of his two-putting from as close as four feet, highlighted a downslide in his round.

"I lost my confidence after that bogey," said Vijay Kumar, whose putting form has been causing him concern all season. Vijay finished his outward journey at one-over after bogeying the 7th and 8th holes. On his back-nine, his tee shot on the 11th, placed his ball behind a tree on the right of the fairway with the bad lie eventually playing its part in his double bogeying the hole. Birdies on the 14th and 17th sandwiched by a bogey on the 15th saw him finish his round at two-over 74.

"My putting is terrible. When I find the line I stroke it poorly and vice versa," said Vijay, who took home the second place cheque of Rs 78,400. Ranjit Singh was a victim of lack of experience today.

The Chandigarh based golfer started the day tied with Mukesh but floundered on the very first hole carding a double bogey after his tee shot placed his ball amid the left trees. A bogey on the 4th and birdies on the 3rd and 6th were followed by his second double bogey of the day this coming on the 8th.

"I three-putted from 4 feet for that double and it broke me completely," said Ranjit. On his return journey, Ranjit birdied the 14th, but dropped shots on the 15th and 16th to end the day at four-over 76. “The pressure of playing with such big players got to me. Just one more round in the leader group and I will get over my nervousness,” said the winner of Rs 44,100 in prize money.

Shiv Prakash played terrible golf according to his own admission with five bogeys, these coming on the 5th, 6th, 16th, 17th and 18th and two birdies on the 7th and 14th . "I want to forget this round and do my best in the next event," said the leader of the current season’s Order of Merit who was richer by Rs 35,700 today.

Simarjeet wins amateur title: Oil India employee Simarjeet Singh emerged triumphant among the amateurs with a tally of 11-over 299 despite a final day’s score of 78. At second spot, just one stroke behind the winner was Sheeraz Kalra with a tally of 12-over 300.

SCORES (after 72 holes): 282_Mukesh Kumar(70,70,69,73); 284_Vijay Kumar(70,71,69,74); 285_Ranjit Singh(69,69,71,76); 287_Shiv Prakash(70,71,71,75); 288_Vinod Kumar (D)(72,72,75,69), Vishal Singh(69,76,73,70); 289_GS Sethi(76,68,72,73); 290_Yusuf Ali(73,72,75,70); 291_Akbar Ali(71,69,76,75), Ali Sher(71,72,70,78); 293_Pappan(72,72,75,74); 294_Basad Ali(74,73,69,78).

Amateurs: 299_Simarjeet Singh(71,72,78,78); 300_Sheeraz Kalra (73,80,74,73); 304_Jasjit Singh(75,76,76,77)