Unheralded Jumman steals the show

There was excitement in the air at the Delhi Golf Course as the country’s current top two golfers — Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Singh...

There was excitement in the air at the Delhi Golf Course as the country’s current top two golfers — Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Singh — teed up at the Royal Challenge Grand Prix. However, it was Lucknow’s Jumman who stole the show with a six-under, 66.

Vijay Kumar’s neighbour and good friend Jumman was thrilled with his performance.

‘‘I really enjoy playing at the Delhi Golf Course and if I could help it I would have all the events played over the course as I have numerous top ten finishes here,’’ said a beaming Jumman.

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Randhawa regains recognition
for Indian golf

New Delhi: Jyoti Randhawa’s sixth place finish at the Dunhill Championship has had the golfing fraternity abuzz for the last two days. When he finally teed it up at the Delhi Golf Course this morning, accolades poured in from his colleagues each time he walked past the annexe.
Jyoti was excited about his performance, which has gained him international recognition. ‘‘It has given me a lot of confidence. The championship was telecast live throughout the week and where ever we went people would congratulate me for playing well.’’

Temporarily tied for second place and maintaining his position in the top 10 throughout the week, Jyoti soon caught the eye of the BBC and European Tour. ‘‘They were surprised to see me playing so well on their turf and on their tour. In essence, I played against the best in the world as the Europeans were in good form after winning the Ryder Cup and only five of them beat me,’’ said Jyoti in retrospect.

They were also surprised how he had managed to handle links courses so well. ‘‘They wanted to know how I played so well links courses, since we hardly play them and how I maintained my form over three different ones as that was the format of the tournament. I reminded them that I had played the Open Championship there — in fact at St Andrews,’’ he added. ‘‘They also wanted to know about Indian golf and the tour and how we play back home,’’ said the Gurgaon-based pro who enjoyed playing in the cool British weather.

‘‘It was perfect weather, not very cold, though we did wear caps and play. However, on the third day it started drizzling and it got a bit chilly. But after that, the weather was beautiful the rest of the week.’’

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An eagle on the second, a birdie on the par-five eighth, a chip-in for another birdie on the 10th hole and a hole-in-one on the par-three 17th completed Jumman’s bogey-free six-under to take a one-stroke lead from local favourite Guarav Ghei.

Gaurav, on the other hand, just managed to keep it all together. ‘‘I hit it all over the place but my putting really saved me today,’’ said Guarav who started the day with a birdie on the par-five first. Picking up another two strokes on the fifth and sixth holes, he faltered on the par-three seventh which he bogeyed. He made up by making a birdie on the easy par-five eighth, but was in trouble on the next hole where he lost his ball and carded another bogey.

Another bogey on the par-three 12th hole, his final dropped shot for the day, he bounced back with birdies on the 13th, 14th and 18th holes, finishing strongly.

A further stroke behind were Arjun Singh, Amritinder Singh and Shiv Prakash, placed tied third with rounds of 69.

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‘‘I’m glad to complete my round today as I felt tired out there — the exhaustion of playing five weeks the Asian PGA Tour and now the Indian PGA tour seem to have caught up with me,’’ said a relaxed Arjun who hit two bushes during his round but dropped just one stroke all day.

A bogey on the fourth where he hit the bush, and birdies on the first, second, 15th and 17th holes saw him shoot a three-under-par.

Amritinder also started the day with birdies on the first and second, the par-five eighth, but bogeyed the ninth hole, followed by a level-par back nine that resulted in his 69. Trailing by a solitary stroke are Uttam Singh Mundy, Ashok Kumar, Basad Ali and SSP Chowrasia.

As is the case on the Indian PGA tour each week, numerous top golfers are already bunched up at the top of the leader board and the rest of the week promises to be exciting.

SCORES

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66—Jumman; 67—Guarav Ghei; 69—Arjun Singh, Amritinder Singh, Shiv Prakash; 70—Ashok Kumar, Uttam Singh Mundy, Basad Ali, SSP Chowrasia; 71—Vijay Kumar, Ali Sher, Vinod Kumar; 72—Rafiq Ali, Rohtas Singh