GURUGRAM: Varun Parikh of Ahmedabad produced a sensational five-under 67 in a dominating final round to clinch his maiden title at the Kapil Dev–Grant Thornton Invitational here on Friday.
Varun's determined last round effort handed him a five-shot victory at the DLF Golf & Country Club as his total read 11-under 277.
The 24-year-old Parikh (73-70-67-67), who won the PGTI's Qualifying School earlier this year and posted a career-best third place finish on the PGTI last month, thus continued his hot form this season.
Varun's triumph earned him a prize money cheque worth Rs. 15,00,000 that lifted him from 28th to fourth position in the PGTI Order of Merit.
Gurugram-based Manu Gandas (74-66-73-69), playing at his home course, took second place at six-under 282 after a final round of 69. He thus moved up from third to second place in the PGTI's merit list.
Kartik Sharma (71-67-72-74), another player from the DLF Golf & Country Club, shot a last round of 74 to finish third at four-under 284.
Varun made a nervous start, dropping two bogeys in exchange for a birdie on his first three holes.
Thereafter, Varun's round took off as his gameplan of hitting 3-wood off the tee instead of driver, paid off. He sank six birdies from the fourth through the 18th which included four long conversions including a mammoth 70-footer on the 11th.
"I just followed my game plan from the range itself. I was a little nervous and a little shaky to begin with to be honest," Varun said.
"My goal was not to make birdies, it was just to make pars, so after the third hole, I didn't make a bogey. Initially the pressure got to me a little bit but after that I held myself together really well.
"I'm just really happy to cross the line, it's been a long time coming. I'm now looking forward to more wins this season."
