New delhi: Indian golfers maintained their stranglehold on the Asian Tour's Panasonic Open India trophy with Khalin Joshi claiming a one-stroke victory at the Delhi Golf Club yesterday.
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 by a one-shot margin. His total of 17-under-271 was the joint lowest in the history of the tournament, equalling Shiv Kapur's record set 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 Siddikur Rahman, who was the overnight joint leader along with Joshi, finished runner-up on 16-under-272 as a result of his last round score of 69.
India's Ajeetesh Sandhu (70) finish tied third at 14-under 274 along with Thailand's Suradit Yongcharoenchai (69).
Another Thai star Jazz Janewattananond (68) finished joint sixth on 276.
Khalin's success was the sixth by an Indian on the international stage this year. It was also the fifth win by an Indian on the Asian Tour in 2018.
"This win means a world to me. Winning anyway was great but winning at Delhi Golf Club was unbelievable. All the spectators and crowd over here were very supportive. I have a bunch of friends over here, hopefully I gave them a good show," said Joshi.
Former Indian Open champion Siddikur, who like Khalin made a birdie on the 17th to begin the last hole in the joint lead with him, missed a 10-footer for birdie on the last hole.
Sandhu, lying overnight third and one off the lead, had a quiet day with three birdies and a bogey. He was in the joint lead until the 13th but then had a bad bounce with his second shot on the 14th and landed in the bushes which led to a bogey. He couldn't catch up with Joshi and Siddikur thereafter.
Last year's champion Shiv Kapur (72) was tied 24 on five-under 283.
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