But kshitij

The Poona Club Golf Course: Delhi’s Kshitij Naveed Kaul fired a cool and confident four-under 67 in the last round, highlighted by a dramatic final hole birdie to emerge wire-to-wire champion at a total of 20-under 264 in The Poona Club Open, the INR 1 crore event which concluded at the Poona Club Golf Course here on Saturday.

The 23-year-old Kshitij (64-66-67-67), who won on the PGTI after two years, collected a prize money cheque worth INR 15 lakh to zoom 31 spots to 18th position in the PGTI Ranking. It was Kaul’s fourth professional title and his second at the Poona Club Golf Course. Karandeep Kochhar (64-66-70-65) of Chandigarh, who was overnight tied third and three off the lead, came up with a strong six-under 65 on Saturday to earn the runner-up spot at 19-under 265.

Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat (69) extended his lead in the PGTI Ranking after he finished tied third at 15-under 269. Dhruv Sheoran, another Gurugram golfer, matched the course record with a 63 that featured two eagles to end up in a share of third place. Delhi’s Rashid Khan (67) too finished tied for third. Olympian Udayan Mane also equalled the course record of 63 as his round featured six consecutive birdies. Local lad Mane thus ended the week as the best-placed Pune golfer in tied ninth at 12-under 272.