Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia triumphs at the Avantha Masters
The Avantha Masters concluded on Sunday at the picturesque DLF golf course in Delhi with India’s star player S.S.P Chowrasia winning his second title of Asian Tour in a rather close match over. His nearest rival, Robert Coles of England missed his chance
of victory after he bogeyed the finishing 18th due to which he had to be content with the second slot. It was all emotions for the local lad as he won his second title.
It turned out to be a costly bogey for the Englishman on the 18th hole. If Coles had made a par at the finishing hole, then things would have been different as both the players had to be involved in a play-off. It was Chowrasia who won his second
title after 2008.
The leader Chowrasia, carded a round of five-under par 67 for the final day with a total aggregate score of 15-under par 273. He had rounds of 70, 69, 67 and 67. Coles finished the tournament with a total aggregate score of 274, just one shot behind the
winner and had rounds of 70, 67, 67 and 70.
Gregory Havret of France finished at the third spot with a total four rounds score of 275. He shot a commendable four-under par 68 on the final day to improve his position on the leader board. Robert-Jan Derksen of Netherlands, who was the leader after the
first round stood fourth and had a total score of 276. Sujjan Singh of India and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal shared the joint fifth spot with a score of 277.
It was Chowrasia who held his nerves on the final day and showed his class on the field. He battled to his second victory after a very long time. He was steady through the round and made seven birdies until the difficult par-3 16th set him back
by two shots. Chowrasia managed a double-bogey and lost two strokes. He missed his chip shot on the par-3 and it was a weak putt due to which he had to lose two strokes.
Chowrasia managed to par his final two holes and had to wait as Coles finished his round. Everything seemed to be going well for the winner, as Coles gave away the victory chances by a mere margin of one shot.
The player who made a mark after the tournament finished was India’s Sujjan Singh. Singh finished tied fifth, as he had under-par rounds throughout the four days. He earned his Asian Tour card last month in the Qualifying School and showed his excellent
shot-making ability during the championship. Singh had three birdies and made two bogeys to finish the final round with a score of one-under par 71.
Much was expected from India’s ace player Jeev Milkha Singh who started the day at the second position. Singh had a disastrous round of three-over par 75 and made four bogeys and a lone birdie on his card. He finished tied at the 11th spot. Nothing
seemed to be going his way as he was very much wayward off the tee and his putting was not up to the mark.
In the end, it was Chowrasia who curbed the challenge of his contenders to pick up the winner’s purse and the trophy. He eagerly waited for his second victory after almost three years. His first victory came at Asian Tour sanctioned Indian Masters in 2008.
Chowrasia’s win has shown the players abilities, as he is the one to watch in the near future.
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