The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Ashok Kumar has the last laugh

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Sunday, Oct 02, 2005

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Sport - Golf

Ashok Kumar has the last laugh

Sports Reporter

REWARDING MOMENT: Ashok Kumar, the winner, receiving the prize money from H.S. Song, Deputy Managing Director, Hyundai Motors India Ltd.

CHENNAI: Ashok Kumar, the Delhi pro, won the Rs. 10 lakh Hyundai-Madras Gymkhana Club Open golf championship by a slender margin of one stroke at the MGC links, Guindy on Saturday. Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) finished joint second with S. Madaiah of Bangalore.

Ashok carded a four-under 66 for an overall score of 16-under 264 while Mukesh (four-under 66) and Madaiah (two-under 68) finished with a four-round total of 15-under 265. Ashok carried home the winner's cheque of Rs. 1,58,200.

With just a stroke separating Ashok and Madaiah, the suspense now boiled down to the par-4 18th. Pressure mounted once Ashok hit his first shot on the left rough. Whispers that he might finish second came thick and fast. Or will it be a play-off, some wondered. That Madaiah's drive from the Tee landed on the fairway only strengthened that possibility.

Good players maintain their cool irrespective of the situation. Ashok did just that to finish at par and hoped Madaiah would do the same. The Bangalorean's putt for the birdie missed the target by an inch, thus ending the suspense.

Mukesh, the day's hero

The man who took everybody's applause on Saturday was Mukesh Kumar. Things didn't turn out the way he expected. On the fifth hole, he had to earn a penalty as his Tee shot deflected off a tree and landed in the water. He finally ended with a bogey. Slowly and steadily, Mukesh clawed his way back.

As the trio reached the final hole, Madaiah was leading Mukesh by a stroke. Once Madaiah completed his quota, finishing at par, the attention fell on Mukesh, who showed why he is such a feared player. A beautiful birdie from eight feet saw Mukesh join Madaiah.

The difference

"At this level, the quality is the same — Mukesh, Muniyappa and Madaiah are very good players. What tilted the difference in my favour was my mental strength," said Ashok, whose last win came 10 months ago in Jamshedpur. "The bogey on the 16th was crucial as I allowed Ashok to take the lead," remarked Madaiah.

L. Selvadurai of ONGC won the amateurs event with a total of three-over 283.

H.S. Song, Deputy Managing Director, Hyundai Motors India Ltd., gave away the prizes.

Top scores:

Professionals: 1. 264 Ashok Kumar (65, 66, 67, 66); 2. 265 Mukesh Kumar (71, 66, 62, 66), S. Madaiah (65, 68, 64, 68); 4. 266 C. Muniyappa (65, 68, 66, 67); 5. 267 Vijay Kumar (71, 62, 68, 66); 6. 270 Rafick Ali (69, 66, 68, 67), Feroz Ali (67, 67, 66, 70); 8. 271 Vinod Kumar (68, 70, 66, 67); 9. 272 Nabin Mondal (66, 68, 68, 70), S.S.P. Chowrasia (67, 67, 65, 73).

Amateurs: 1. 283 L. Selvadurai (ONGC) (75, 68, 68, 72), 2. 301 R. Privithiraj (76, 70, 78, 77).

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