Lalitha wins golf title

CHANDIGARH, April 4: Lalitha Kumara of Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the 98th Amateur golf championship, which concluded at the Chandig...

CHANDIGARH, April 4: Lalitha Kumara of Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the 98th Amateur golf championship, which concluded at the Chandigarh Golf Club here today. Kumara defeated Shiraz Kalra who played well initially but was not able to sustain in the last nine holes, which decided the fate of the golfers.

There was keen tussle to grab the lead. Lalith won the 25th hole to take the match to all square after 27 holes. However, on the the 31st hole Shiraz was lying two short of the green with his second shot. As the ball was lying on a bald patch, he caught it clean and topped it over the green. Failing to make par from there he lost the hole to a par to go one down.

Lalitha then won the 33rd hole as Shiraz first hit it right. Chipped out and then hit the bunker. He came out well from there but Kumara, who had hit a brilliant shot, which went over the green chipped and holed the putt taking the score to two up with three to play.

The next hole was the final hole of the match. Shiraz made amends and hit a good drive but that was not good enough to beat Kumara whose ball had hit the tree and gone backwards but he still managed to hit a good second. Shiraz pushed his second shot right, from there he left the next shot and missed his par. Kumara was comfortably on and made to putt for par to take the title.

The losers plate was won by Simarjeet Singh. He played two under to win the event that was played over 18 holes. India was handed back the trophy for the team event by Dilip Thomas, who sponsors a lot of golfers, Shiraz and Digvijay being among them, was here specially for the event.