Feroz jumps out of nowhere, wins title

Pune, January 27: Defending champion Feroz Ali put up a true jack-in-the-box performance as he came from seven strokes behind the overnight leaders to win the Rs.10-lakh Wills Western Open after a thrilling four-way play-off at the 6593-yard par-71 Poona Club Golf Course today. Feroze was forced into a playoff with Harmeet Kahlon and Shivshankar Prasad Chowrasia, who both shot three-under 68 on the final day and rookie Rahul Ganapthy, who showed tremendous grit and character, to make a birdie on the final hole and finish with a two-over 73. That gave all four a four-day aggregate of three-under 281 after the stipulated 72 holes.

Ganapathy, Chowrasia and Kahlon were looking for their first professional victory while Feroz last won a title during the SRF Open in March 2000. Chowrasia bowed out in the first hole after his second shot got stymied. He hit a great chip but failed to make the putt. On the third playoff hole, the par-4 first of the course, Kahlon’s tee shot found the fairway bunker and He left the battle between rookie Ganapathy and battle-hardened Feroz. On the fourth playoff hole, the par-3 second of the course, Ganapathy finally gave up when his tee shot went into the right trees. He made a courageous chip through the trees but still could not match Feroz who calmly sank a birdie putt to take home his first title of the season and a winner’s cheque of Rs.1.62 lakh. Ganapathy, Kahlon and Chowrasia received Rs.75,333 each.

Rafiq Ali and Shiv Prakash were tied for the fifth place at level-par 284 while overnight leader Mukesh Kumar dropped down to tie seventh place along with Indrajit Bhalotia and Prakash Kubde. Feroz began with a birdie on the first hole. He birdied the fifth and eagled the 10th and was level-par after making bogeys on fourth and 12th.