Anirban Lahiri wins BILT Open golf

GREATER NOIDA - Anirban Lahiri bagged the highest prize money ever on the Aircel-PGTI when he won the BILT Open 2009 golf with a mammoth seven-stroke margin here Sunday.

Bangalore-based Lahiri came up with a sublime effort on the final day to take home the winner’s cheque of Rs.1,616,500 at the at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort.

The 22-year-old ended the tournament with a total of 20 under 268, having shot one under 71 in the fourth round on Sunday. He thus broke Jyoti Randhawa’s course record of 19 under 269 for 72 holes that was set during the BILT Open last year.

Naman Dawar totalled 13 under 275 for the tournament to finish as the runner-up.

Lahiri’s (66, 65, 66, 71) second professional win which also happens to be his second of the 2009 Aircel-PGTI season, has now helped him overtake Gaganjeet Bhullar as the leader on the Aircel-PGTI Order of Merit for 2009. He was fourth on the Order of Merit prior to the BILT Open. Lahiri’s earnings in the current season have now gone up to Rs. 34,79,720.

The 45 professionals, who had not completed round three due to suspension of play on Saturday evening, finished their respective rounds by 10:15 a.m. The final round then got underway at 10:45 a.m.

Lahiri, who made three birdies and a bogey on his remaining nine holes from round three in the morning, led the field by six strokes at 19 under 197 after the third round. He posted a 66 in round three.

Lahiri had an eventful start to the fourth round as he made birdie-eagle-bogey on the first three holes. He then sank another birdie on the fifth to get way ahead of the chasing pack and almost seal the title. His eagle on the second came as a result of a good drive and an even better four iron second shot from 225 yards that landed within one foot of the hole.

The Asian Tour regular then dropped two strokes with bogeys on the ninth and 10th before picking up his last birdie of the day on the 12th. A bogey followed on the 15th but Lahiri still managed to cruise to a comprehensive seven-stroke victory.

“I’m really thrilled with my performance this week. I would have ideally liked a better score in the final round but I’m glad that I stayed focused through the week. This win gives me loads of confidence for the remaining events this season, especially the international ones. It also feels good to be leading the Order of Merit at this stage even though a lot of golf remains to be played this season,” said Lahiri.

He added: “I wasn’t thinking about the win but wanted to shoot a total score of 24 to 25 under. I did not try to protect my lead at any stage and just focused on my own game. I have been working on changing my swing in the recent past and that seems to have helped my game.”

Dawar (72, 65, 68, 70) of Delhi finished a creditable second at 13 under 275 to move up from 30th to seventh on the Aircel-PGTI Order of Merit. He fired five birdies, a bogey and a double bogey in his final round of two under 70.

Dawar, who putted well through the week, sank an 18-footer for birdie on the seventh and knocked-in a 30 feet putt for birdie on the 17th in the final round.

Himmat Singh Rai and Digvijay Singh finished tied third at 11 under 277 while Vikrant Chopra and Harendra Gupta shared fifth place at 10 under 278. Mukesh Kumar ended the tournament with a total of nine under 279 to be lone seventh.