Ashok wins title, moves to top of rankings

GURGAON - Ashok Kumar didn’t even need to tee-off, as the fourth and final round was rained off at the DLF Golf and Country Club and the DLF Masters was reduced to a 54-hole event with no play possible Sunday.

With Ashok (70-65-65) leading by eight shots at the end of the third, he was a runaway winner, with Gaganjeet Bhullar (68-67-73) second, and Anirban Lahiri (70-69-70) third at seven-under 209.

C. Muniyappa and Ajeetesh Sandhu tied fourth at six-under 210, while Jyoti Randhawa, Himmat Singh Rai, Gaurav Pratap Singh, Amardip Sinh Malik and Sri Lankan Anura Rohana shared the sixth place at five-under 211.

Play was first suspended at about 8.50 a.m. Sunday due to heavy rain. The round could not resume till 2 p.m. as the course was waterlogged and not in a playable condition. The tournament committee then decided to declare the results on the basis of the three completed stipulated rounds.

Ashok won Rs. 15,35,675 and climbed from seventh place to the number one position on the Rolex Rankings for the PGTI.

Ashok said: “This has been an outstanding tournament for me as I had never shot two successive rounds of 65 before. Things are looking up for me at the moment as I am in total control of my hitting after having got my clubs refitted. I have also recovered almost completely from my wrist injury.”

“This win is a huge morale-booster since it is my first of the season and also my first at the DLF Golf & Country Club. It feels great to register an emphatic eight-stroke win in such challenging conditions. I now lead the Rolex Rankings and will strive to maintain my position at the top till the end of the season.”

While the last two groups from both tees were yet too tee-off when the rain cam down, none of those who started early were able to complete the final round.

Ashok Saturday was in a full flow as he shot a second successive 65 that helped him establish a mammoth eight-stroke lead. This was Ashok’s eighth win on the Aircel PGTI, which took over from the erstwhile PGAI in 2006.

In the team championship, the team of Ashok, Gaganjeet Bhullar and amateur Arun Kishore Khanna won the competition with a net score of 129. The team of Muniyappa, Amardip Singh Malik and amateur Amit Sood finished second with a net score of 131.