The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Harinder triumphs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 25, 2004

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Sport - Golf

Harinder triumphs

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 24 Twenty-year-old local amateur Harinder Gupta fired superb four-under 68 to total his tally to 14-under 274 to win Rs. 10 lakh Hero Golf Open 2004 here on Saturday. Harinder became the third amateur in the history of the Hero Honda Golf Tour to win a pro-tournament. Gaurav Ghei won the first ever amateur winner of a pro title on the Tour in 1991 while Delhi pro Arjun Singh twice won as an amateur in 1993 — Jalandhar Open and the Classic Eastern (Kolkata).

Kolkata's Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia, who was overnight tied in lead with Harmeet Kahlon, pipped the latter with a birdie on the final hole to wrench the cheque for Rs. 1,62,000 at a score of 12-under 276.

With Harinder not eligible to earn a livelihood out of the game in his capacity as an amateur, the second placed pro was awarded the top prize cheque.

Kahlon, who too sank a remarkable birdie putt on the 18th, received Rs. 1,12,000 for finishing second.

The last day saw thrilling end to the competition on the 18th green. With Harinder sitting with a comfortable lead of three strokes, it boiled down to a battle between Chowrasia at 11-under and Kahlon one stroke behind the Kolkatan at that stage. Kahlon played to the gallery with a superb left to right birdie putt.

Chowrasia who took a long look at the ten-feet birdie putt, hit the bull's eye. Harinder who had earlier missed a chip-in for birdie by a narrow inch, tapped in the ball to win. — UNI

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