Kshitij Kaul comes of age

The Asian Age.

Sports, In Other sports

The 18-year-old Delhi boy wins Pune Open Golf in only his ninth appearance since turning professional.

Kshitij Naveed Kaul

Teenager rookie Kshitij Naveed Kaul of Delhi, playing only his ninth event as a professional, displayed maturity way beyond his years to shoot a final round of four-under-67 that helped him register a one-shot victory at the Pune Open Golf Championship 2019.

The 18-year-old Kaul’s (69-67-66-67) triumph at the four-day event in Poona Club Golf Course saw him close the week with a total of 15-under-269 and made him the third-youngest winner on the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI)  after Karandeep Kochhar and Shubhankar Sharma both of whom won on the tour as 17-year-olds.

Mysuru’s Yashas Chandra (68-68-68-66) carded the last day’s best score of five-under-66 to finish a close second at 14-under-270 at the `30 lakh event.

Kaul, the round three joint leader, had a topsy-turvy final round as he struggled to achieve accuracy with his tee shots. However, the former India No. 1 in the junior and amateur category, managed to salvage the day with his brilliant short-game.

He became richer by `4,84,950, thus climbed from fifth to third place in the TATA Steel PGTI Order of Merit. His earnings for the season now read `11,59,650. Kaul at 18 years and four months also became the third-youngest player to win in the PGTI after Karandeep Kochhar who achieved the feat at 17 years and five months in Kolkata in 2016 and Shubhankar Sharma who did the same at 17 years and eight months in Kochi in 2014.

Kaul, who had posted two top-fives including a runner-up finish earlier in the season, said, “My hitting was all over the place today but I did really well within 100 yards of the green. My chipping and putting got me out of trouble on a number of occasions today. I attribute my win to good course management and perfect execution of my plans and strategy,” said Kshitij a winner of four titles at the amateur level and 40 at the junior level.

“A win so early in my career is a huge morale-booster. I was encouraged by the presence of my mother and maternal grandfather during the tournament. I dedicate this win to an aunt of mine who passed away last week,” he added.

Pravin Pathare and Pratik Nirmale had the best finish among the Pune-based professionals. The duo closed the week in tied 24th at one-over-285.

Earlier, Delhi’s Kapil Kumar equaled the course record with a phenomenal eight-under-63 on Day three to match the course record of 63, a number also shot in round one by Ahmedabad-based Samarth Dwivedi.

There are now six joint course record holders also including the likes of C Muniyappa (2014 PGTI Qualifying School Final Stage), Chikkarangappa (2006), S Madaiah (2005) and Vijay Kumar (2004).

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