Indians reign supreme

Indians reign supreme
V KRISHNASWAMY

DHAKA, JAN 22: The fifteenth is the longest of the four-par three holes at the Kurmitola Golf Club course. It also has one of most difficult pin positions, slightly uphill and at the back of the green. And that's where all the drama took place in the match-play final at the SAARC Golf Championships, sponsored by Bharat Petroleum here on Saturday.

When Ashok Kumar walked to the 15th tee, the final was all square, with both Simarjeet Singh and Rahil Gangjee having finished their matches a few minutes earlier on the 15th green. Simarjeet, despite his best in three days on the front nine, had lost 4 and 3 to an inspired Lalitha Kumara. Gangjee, who confesses to relishing match-play ``It gives instant results'' paid the Lankans back in the same coin. Gangjee never led the match on the front nine but on the back he came up with a brilliant surge that saw him win four of the six holes to wrap up the match 4 and 3.

Back to the 15th green. Ashok unleashed his 3 Iron and the ball landed on the green about 10 feet over the pin and just as the crowd sighed, the ball began rolling back and stopped just over a foot short of the cup. Ashok holed out for a birdie to go two up and that, more or less, settled the title. Both Tissa Chandradasa and Ashok halved the next two holes and the Indian emerged winner 2 and 1.

Lalitha Kumara, a young 20-year-old Colombo based golfer, for the second year in a row was the lone Lankan to win a match.

Results: India bt Sri Lanka 2-1 (Simarjeet Singh lost to Lalitha Kumara 4 and 3; Rahil Gangjee bt Anura Rohana 4 and 3; Ashok Kumar bt Tissa Chandradasa 2 and 1).