Indian golfers maintained their stranglehold over the Asian Tour’s Panasonic Open India trophy as Bengaluru lad Khalin Joshi broke the victory barrier at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) on Sunday. 

 

Joshi, who had been runner-up on the Asian Tour on two previous occasions, produced a gallant final round performance of four-under-68 at the US$ 400,000 event to seal the title with a one-shot margin. His total of 17-under-271 was the joint lowest in the history of the tournament as he equaled Shiv Kapur’s record from last year.

 

The 26-year-old Khalin, the overnight joint leader, also became the seventh Indian to win the tournament in a total of eight editions. 

 

Bangladesh’s Md Siddikur Rahman, who was the overnight joint leader along with Joshi, finished runner-up at 16-under-272 as a result of his last round of 69.

 

India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu came up with a fourth round of 70 to finish tied third at 14-under-274 along with Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai (69). 

 

The two other exceptional performances by Indians this week came from Aman Raj and rookie Kshitij Naveed Kaul.

 

While Aman Raj carded a final round of 69 to post a career-best fifth place finish on the Asian Tour at 13-under-275, Kshitij Naveed Kaul, making his professional debut this week, had a dream start to his pro career as he claimed tied sixth place at 12-under-276 courtesy his last round of 68.  

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