Mumbai, January 8: In an exciting finish that boiled down to 18th hole, South Africa edged out India A by a stroke to win the international team championship, here on Monday.South Africa completed the 36-hole competition on 280, with India ‘A’ finishing on 281. Trailing by two strokes after the first 18 holes played on Sunday, South Africa’s fightback was led by 19-year-old Richard Stern, who carded a two-under 68. India’s Rahil Gaangjee also came up with a two-under 68 to ensure that India stayed in contention. Gangjee had birdies on the 1st, 4th, 8th and 15th holes and bogeys on the 3rd and 17th for his 68. However, a poor outing by first day hero Ashok Kumar, who came in four over, nullified Gangjee’s good work. On the 18th hole Kumar hit a great approach shot to the pin, overshooting it by about 20 feet. His putt for eagle missed the hole by a fraction of an inch. He birdied the par-five hole but Dean Lambert replied with a birdie of his own, sinking a putt from about eight feet to give his team the title.The Sri Lankan ‘A’ team of Ka Chandradasa and Ra Rohana finished third on 284. A strong front nine by Gangjee ensured that India ‘A’ had a four-stroke lead at the halfway mark. Though Ashok finished his front nine three over, Lambert, also went four over. Stern finished the front nine one-under, but there was no panic in the Indian camp. However, strong performances on the back nine by both the South Africans saw them nullify Indians lead and win by a stroke. Stern finished the back nine one-under, while Lambert came in three under to effectively shut out the Indian combination. On the back nine, Stern had birdies on the 11th and 12th and bogey on the 17th, while Lambert had birdies on the 10th, 15th and 18th holes.
