Mukesh Kumar triumphs after thrilling play-off

Mukesh Kumar, locked in a sea-saw battle with Feroz Ali in treacherously windy conditions, got the better of the Kolkatan in a thriller of a play-off to annex his fifth title of the season at the Rs 600,000 Sir Padampat Singhania Open 2002.

The play-off took place after both Mukesh and overnight leader Feroz Ali were tied at a four-day tournament aggregate of six-under 282 apiece. Mukesh, who returned a final round score of level-par 72, took home the winner's cheque of Rs 97,200.

The tournament, played at the par-72, Noida Golf course, marks the end of the 20th leg of the 2001-02 season's Hero Honda Golf Tour.

Veteran Delhi golfer Rohtas Singh finished third at one-over 289 while Lucknow's Sanjay Kumar was fourth at four-over 292. Feroz's younger sibling Rafiq Ali finished tied for the fifth position with Chandigarh's Amritinder Singh at 293.

Delhi Golf Club duo of Zai Kipgen and Hero Honda Golf Tour debutant, 20-year old Ashok Kumar settled for a tied-eighth finish at 294. Last year's winner, SSP Chowrasia of Kolkata had to make do with the tied 16th position after tallying 298.

Mukesh Kumar will finally get a good night's sleep. The top-ranked golfer on the Hero Honda Golf Tour has finally opened up a wide enough gap between him and Feroz Ali on the Mahindra Points tally. The Kolkatan was threatening to overtake Mukesh in the race for the 'Mahindra Champion Golfer of the Year' award and the accompanying prize cheque of Rs One million.

"This win comes as a huge relief to me and I dedicate it to my new sponsors, Callaway Golf," said Mukesh. 'I was worried after not winning a single tournament in 2002," he said.

Feroz, on the other hand, has already notched up three wins this year and looked good for a fourth before Mukesh won the play-off.

The play-off began with Mukesh dissecting the Noida Golf Course's par-5 1st hole with his 3-wood tee shot. Feroz's driver saw the wind place his ball in a corner of the bunker on the second fairway. Playing it safe back onto the first fairway with a 6-iron, Feroz then went on to chip his lob wedge a shade too hard to find himself 20 feet beyond the pin. His birdie putt missed the hole by an inch and Mukesh on the green with his second shot, two-putted to birdie the hole and wrap up the title.

"I was very tentative at the start," said Mukesh, who dropped shots on the first and third holes. Feroz, four ahead at that stage, bogeyed the 7th and with Mukesh birdying the 8th, the two entered their back-nine with the overnight two-stroke lead unchanged in favour of the Kolkatan. At this stage, Feroz made a vital error. On the par-4 11th, his driver placed the ball in the edge of a sapling pit from where he went on to find a tree.

Finally, two-putting on the green for a double-bogey, Feroz found himself tied with Mukesh. A birdie on the following hole was negated by a birdie on the 13th, while another birdie on the 14th was undone by a dropped sot on the 15th.

Meanwhile Mukesh birdied the 14th and 15th to go two-ahead. Mukesh's bogey on the 16th and Feroz's birdie on the 17th preceding a pared-18th hole caused the play-off.

"The double-bogey did me in," said Feroz who returned a two-over 74

"Thereafter, I lost control of the situation and dropped shots regularly despite making birdies," he added.

"I am a very good player in windy conditions as I hit the ball low," said Mukesh. "I actually began to believe I would win after my birdie on the 15th, which took me two-ahead," he added. "I had only one thought on my mind in the play-off hole. I wanted to win at all costs," concluded the eventual champion.

Feroz looked rightfully dejected despite pocketing the second prize cheque of Rs 67,200.

Simarjeet Singh wins amateur title: Oil India sponsored Simarjeet Singh played superbly to win the amateur title. Simarjeet's final round score of level-par 72 contributed to a winning tally of six-over 294.

Former Test cricketer Ajay Jadeja, making his debut as an amateur golfer, finished second with a tally of 302. Jadeja played to three-over 75 today.

SCORES (after 72 holes): 282_Mukesh Kumar(72,71,67,72), Feroz Ali (69,70,69,74); 289_Rohtas Singh(74,76,69,70); 292_Sanjay Kumar(68,73,71,80), 293_Rafiq Ali(72,75,72,74), Amritinder Singh(67,73,75,78); 294_Zai Kipgen(77,71,70,76), Ashok Kumar(70,73,74,77); 296_Praduman Guleria(74,70,73,79), Amit Dube(70,68,76,82); 297_Suleiman Ali(73,78,73,73), Asgar Ali(71,80,72,74), Uttam Singh Mundy(75,79,68,75), Shiv Prakash(74,72,74,77), Sheeraz Kalra(73,76,70,78).

Amateurs: 294_Simarjeet Singh(75,75,72,72); 302_Ajay Jadeja(75,73,79,75); 305_Saurav Bahuguna(72,74,74,85)

Earlier reports:
Day 3: Feroz, Mukesh set up exciting final day
Day 2: Amit Dube grabs the lead
Day 1: Birthday boy Amritinder leads Singhania Open