Randhawa makes Open a shut case

There is a certain charm in the way Randhawa gets his grip on the lead, but the response on the par-four 16th hole on the last day on the Hero Honda Indian Open will be remembered for years to come.

As he aimed for the pin from the middle of the fairway, the early applause accompanying the ball’s trajectory suddenly morphed into crazy cheers from the spectators at the green. Even as the ball kept rolling after hitting the ground, Randhawa realised he had won the cup. As a mark of celebration, he first pumped his first, then did a little jig before flashing a broad smile and acknowledging the cheering crowd.

Two safe pars on the par-three 17th and the par-five 18th after that eagle — he later described as two “very tense” holes — it was a mere formality. The three-shot victory made the pre-tournament talk of a record third title — he had dismissed it with a wave of hands — a reality. Randhawa is now only the second man — and the first Indian — after Aussie Peter Thomson to win three Indian Open titles.

Chang was the best challenger, as he tried hard with a four-under round. He finished second, at 11-under. Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee shot a great round, the best of the day, to leapfrog to third place. His 66 today gave him an aggregate of eight-under.

Thai Chapchai Nirat bogeyed the fourth to fall back, but his birdie on the 6th brought him back level. But Randhawa followed suit, a long downhill putt for birdie giving him the one-shot lead back. He gained one on the par-five 8th, but bogeyed the par-four ninth. The afternoon was turning sullen as the back-nine saw a way too long line of pars and just-missed putts. Before that sparkle on the 16th settled the show.

Jeev Milkha Singh took two days to get the hang of Indian greens. After his first sub-par score for the week yesterday, he shot four-under today. That made him soar from the 38th place from tied 13th in the morning. Gaurav Ghei had a disastrous round of seven-over today and ended tied 22nd.

Meanwhile, Rashid Khan pipped Rahul Bakshi for the amateur title. Bakshi had a four stroke lead going into the last day. But his seven-over and Rashid’s three-over today put them level after four and Rashid edged his nemesis for the title for a better last round.

Leading final round scores:

• 275—Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 70-69-67-69 ($79,250),

• 278—Chang Tse-peng (TPE) 68-65-77-68,

• 280 — Rahil Gangjee (IND) 71-67-76-66,

• 281—Mitchell Brown (AUS) 74-71-69-67,

• 282—Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 68-75-67-72, David Gleeson (AUS) 66-68-76-72, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 66-67-73-76, Mark Brown (NZL) 71-72-64-75,

• 283—Arjun Singh (IND) 73-70-71-69, Ashok Kumar (IND) 68-73-73-69, S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 68-71-74-70,

• 284—Peter Senior (AUS) 70-70-76-68,

• 285—Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 72-74-71-68, Ross Bain (SCO) 69-72-73-71, Keith Horne (RSA) 71-70-73-71, Uttam Singh Mundy (IND) 70-76-68-71.