It was about a four-footer that never found its line; a lob-wedge that found its sweet spot.
It was about a fight one never fought; a fight the other never desired.
In the end, it was about a title one wanted to add; a title the other desperately needed.
Deftly side-stepping the amateur circuit so far, Chikka came out this week for one of his rare appearances on the senior tour, and immediately injected life into a tour running the risk of being sabotaged by one talented 18-year-old from Delhi.
After 54 holes, only one shot separated the local favourite from Rashid Khan. Overnight rain contrived to delay the start of the much-anticipated battle. But when play did start, Chikka rolled in five birdies on the front-nine, two bogeys aside, to move into the driver's seat. Two bogeys in three holes quickly nullified the advantage and one feared the brave run might have come to an end. Rashid, meanwhile, made his way around with pars at hand, poised to take over, waiting for the right moment to jump ahead.
And the chance came his way. On the par-3 17th, Rashid found the right club, and on the soft greens, the ball landed right next to the pin to leave him with a short putt for birdie. The leader found his ball resting on the fringe, and left with a 25-foot downhill putt, a two-putt seemed a difficult proposition.
Chikka first to go, made "a near-perfect putt" and the ball, after negotiating the curling path to the hole, dipped in just to lip out in the end. Rashid was set to draw level. A gentle four-footer would see him go into the last hole on the back of five wins on tour with Chikka in search of his maiden title. But the putt was not to be. He never found the right line, and a grimace quickly transformed itself into a confident smile for the local lad. He explained, "On all three days I had made birdie on the final hole."
A good drive left him with 72 yards to the pin. With a recently gifted lob-wedge from his club mate Anirban Lahiri in hand, Chikka hit his approach shot to just beyond the pin, allowing the ball to grip the surface, spin, and it politely sidled up right next to the hole.
Not one to be left wondering, Rashid tried to go one better, almost did, but had to be content with a seven-footer for birdie, which he converted. Chikka stepped up to the plate and was not going to repeat his playing partner's mistake. Tapped-in and clinched the first of what promises to be many titles on the national amateur tour.
Rashid was left ruing his missed putt but nothing could take away the sheen from Chikka's game as he completed a dominant wire-to-wire win.
The most heartening aspect of the tournament -- the top four. Chikkarangappa, Rashid Khan, Rahul Bakshi and Abhijit Singh Chadha. All youngsters who hold great promise. Rahul Bakshi finished just three behind Rashid with a 68- the best round of the day.
The disappointing bit -- Chikka heads to Panchkula next week for the Northern India Junior Championship, with only one player to compete with. A touch harsh, but Ashbeer Saini and Chikka are just too talented to expect serious competition on the junior tour.
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A wonderful picture of Chikka and Rashid from last year-:
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1 comments:
I agree with you guys. Chikka definitely needs to play on the amateur circuit but one can understand his point of view. He might as well get as much international exposure as possible under his belt before he graduates to the senior level
By: Ravi on June 14, 2009 at 9:28 AM
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