Classy Bhullar turns the clock back
Sidney Kiran, June 04, 2016, Bengaluru: DHNS:
Struggling star Gaganjeet Bhullar rediscovered his mojo but surprise contenders Dev Chandigarh continued their surge for the third straight day in the Louis Philippe Cup here on Friday.
While the 28-year-old Bhullar, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour but plagued by injuries and subsequent loss of form over the last 18 months, showed what he is capable of with a scintillating six-under 66, Dev Chandigarh (415), powered again by a collective team effort, retained their handsome five-shot lead.
TAKE Chennai, the pre-event favourites who are yet to light up the Karnataka Golf Association, stayed in the hunt though, sharing the second place at 420 with NSports Hyderabad. Laqshya Mumbai are a further shot behind while defending champions Navratna Ahmedabad may need to produce something special if they have to retain the title after being placed fifth at 422.
It may be recalled that last year, Ahmedabad never held the lead and trailed leader Chennai by five shots on the final morning before Mithun Perera and fellow Sri Lankan Anura Rohana produced a sensational late blitz to clinch the title on countback.
The third round is commonly known as the Moving Day in golf and Bhullar and his team NSports Hyderabad were the biggest risers on a muggy day. Bhullar, searching for the form of old that served as an inspiration for many including current sensation Anirban Lahiri, pulled one from the past.
Playing freely away from the spotlight following two ordinary rounds, the Kapurthala pro was solid right throughout. He struck the ball brilliantly, finding the fairways on all the 18 holes and putted like a dream on the slick greens.
He opened his account for the day with a birdie on the opening hole, rolling in a four-footer before picking up a shot on the fifth with a five-foot putt. He then turned in scorching fashion, scoring a hat-trick of birdies.
On the ninth he sank a 25-footer, holed a 10-footer on the 10th and then sank a seven-foot putt on the 11th. He birdied the 14th and 17th before three-putting on the 18th for a bogey, bringing a confidence-boosting day to and end on a sombre note.
Bhullar’s Hyderabad team-mate Ajeetesh Sandhu was another strong performer on the day, carding a fine 67. Abhijit Chadha, however, retained the individual lead, carding 71 for a three-round total of 209. Perera (71) and Himmat Rai (70) were a shot behind in second place.
Scores (after 54 holes): Team (only the two best scores considered): 415: Dev Chandigarh; 420: TAKE Chennai, NSports Hyderabad; 421: Laqshya Mumbai; 422: Navratna Ahmedabad; 423: Zion Hills Bengaluru; 428: Jaypee Greens Greater Noida; 431: DLF-The Crest Gurgaon.
Leading individual scores: 209: Abhijit Chadha (71, 67, 71); 210: Mithun Perera (69, 70, 71), Himmat Rai (65, 75, 70); 211: Sujjan Singh (71, 67, 73), Shamim Khan (70, 70, 71), Gaganjeet Bhullar (74, 71, 66), Ajeetesh Sandhu (73, 71, 67), S Chikkarangappa (71, 70, 70), Chiragh Kumar (71, 69, 71).
While the 28-year-old Bhullar, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour but plagued by injuries and subsequent loss of form over the last 18 months, showed what he is capable of with a scintillating six-under 66, Dev Chandigarh (415), powered again by a collective team effort, retained their handsome five-shot lead.
TAKE Chennai, the pre-event favourites who are yet to light up the Karnataka Golf Association, stayed in the hunt though, sharing the second place at 420 with NSports Hyderabad. Laqshya Mumbai are a further shot behind while defending champions Navratna Ahmedabad may need to produce something special if they have to retain the title after being placed fifth at 422.
It may be recalled that last year, Ahmedabad never held the lead and trailed leader Chennai by five shots on the final morning before Mithun Perera and fellow Sri Lankan Anura Rohana produced a sensational late blitz to clinch the title on countback.
The third round is commonly known as the Moving Day in golf and Bhullar and his team NSports Hyderabad were the biggest risers on a muggy day. Bhullar, searching for the form of old that served as an inspiration for many including current sensation Anirban Lahiri, pulled one from the past.
Playing freely away from the spotlight following two ordinary rounds, the Kapurthala pro was solid right throughout. He struck the ball brilliantly, finding the fairways on all the 18 holes and putted like a dream on the slick greens.
He opened his account for the day with a birdie on the opening hole, rolling in a four-footer before picking up a shot on the fifth with a five-foot putt. He then turned in scorching fashion, scoring a hat-trick of birdies.
On the ninth he sank a 25-footer, holed a 10-footer on the 10th and then sank a seven-foot putt on the 11th. He birdied the 14th and 17th before three-putting on the 18th for a bogey, bringing a confidence-boosting day to and end on a sombre note.
Bhullar’s Hyderabad team-mate Ajeetesh Sandhu was another strong performer on the day, carding a fine 67. Abhijit Chadha, however, retained the individual lead, carding 71 for a three-round total of 209. Perera (71) and Himmat Rai (70) were a shot behind in second place.
Scores (after 54 holes): Team (only the two best scores considered): 415: Dev Chandigarh; 420: TAKE Chennai, NSports Hyderabad; 421: Laqshya Mumbai; 422: Navratna Ahmedabad; 423: Zion Hills Bengaluru; 428: Jaypee Greens Greater Noida; 431: DLF-The Crest Gurgaon.
Leading individual scores: 209: Abhijit Chadha (71, 67, 71); 210: Mithun Perera (69, 70, 71), Himmat Rai (65, 75, 70); 211: Sujjan Singh (71, 67, 73), Shamim Khan (70, 70, 71), Gaganjeet Bhullar (74, 71, 66), Ajeetesh Sandhu (73, 71, 67), S Chikkarangappa (71, 70, 70), Chiragh Kumar (71, 69, 71).
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