Kang, Mrinalini reign at BPGC

MUMBAI, APRIL 10: The duo of Col KJS Kang and Mrinalini Kochar clinched top honours in the fifth House of Patels Invitational Greensome G...

MUMBAI, APRIL 10: The duo of Col KJS Kang and Mrinalini Kochar clinched top honours in the fifth House of Patels Invitational Greensome Golf Tournament at the par-70 Bombay Presidency Golf Club today.

The duo came up with a match-winning score of 41 points to finish ahead of second placed Nohar Nath, BPGC’s Golfer of the Year 1997-98 and S V Chipalkatti. Ashok Wadhwani and Prakash Doshi picked up the third place trophy.

Around 192 golfers landed on the greens for the tournament which featured the Chapman’s Greensome format. The two-member team would tee-off together at each hole and the second shot for each of the balls will be played by the other partner. The better ball of the two, in terms of result, is selected and the players then play alternatively till the ball is holed. Scoring was on Stableford basis and the team handicap calculated at 3/4th the combined handicaps of the team members.

Story continues below this ad

“With two players of different handicaps forming a team some tense moments were bound to be there,” saidveteran Ratan Bali. “But that was the idea to see how one reacts in pressure situations and take decisions.”

Said Arif Patel of the sponsors: “We usually play golf on our own. Here was a chance to know what we could do as a part of a team.”

But there were some who would want to differ. “I am not particularly in love with the format,” noted Col Irwin Extross. “One does the good work and the other undoes it.”

When asked wether he was upset with his partner, Extross said “No, but I think my partner is!” Other winners: Longest drive: Men: Gopal Kapoor & Shivas Nath; Women: Meher Amersey & Rani Maheshwari. Closes to pin: Men: Sharad Divecha & Kishore Thakker; Women: Rani Maheshwari & Gita Parikh.