Atwal moves close to qualifying

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Top Indian pro Arjun Atwal fired a two-under 70 in the final round to move a step closer to qualifying for the prestig...

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Top Indian pro Arjun Atwal fired a two-under 70 in the final round to move a step closer to qualifying for the prestigious US PGA in emphatic fashion.

Atwal, who shot his best round of seven-under 65 in the previous round on Thursday, to finish third with a four-round aggregate of 14-under 274 at the Glenelefe Golf and Tennis Resort in Hainese City, Florida, one of the 13 venues for the first stage of qualifying, a release said here today.

The Calcutta pro8217;s 274 was the second best score, a stroke behind leaders David Morland and Dennis Zinkon and he has made it to the second stage.

Ali Sher champion

NEW DELHI: Ali Sher won his seventh title at the Delhi Golf Course when he claimed the Meridien- Gokarna Pro Am tournament. Today8217;s scores were not very high but that was because the 42 pros were clubbed with three amateurs and the rounds took a long time.

Playing consistently, Ali was the only player not to go over par on any of the four days. So the winner8217;s cheque of Rs.83,300 which signalled the end of of year-long title drought 8212; he last won a title at the Hindu Open in August 1997 8212; on the PGAI Tour.

Final scores: 286: Ali Sher 72, 71, 71, 72; 288: Shiv Prakash 72, 70, 72, 74; 290: Basad Ali 73, 72, 71, 74; 291: Vikramjit Singh 76, 70, 69, 76; Jyoti Randhawa 78, 70, 70, 73; Vivek Bhandari 71, 74, 73, 73; 292: Amritinder Singh 71, 75, 72, 74, SSP Chowrasia 75, 70, 75, 72; 294: Sanjay Kumar 74, 71, 77, 72, Gast Ram 75, 74, 73, 72; 295: Vijay Kumar 75, 68, 74, 78; 296: Gaurav Ghei 71, 77, 73, 75.

Luthra leads

PUNE: Amit Luthra of Delhi is leading the bunch on the penultimate day of the Blue Diamond Open Amateur Golf Championship at the Poona Club Golf Course here today. Luthra had three over par 74 with two birdies in the 7th and 14th holes while three bogies in the first, 17th and 18th holes. He aggregated a total of 218.

Leading scores: 218: Amit luthra 72, 72, 74; 221: Harmeet Kahlon 72, 75, 74; 222: PS Guleria72, 75, 75.