Rashid shoots 64, helps Delhi A to commanding win

Kolkata, Dec 18: Carding the best round of his amateur career, an eight-under 64, Rashid Khan led the Delhi A team to a comprehensive win at the LG West Bengal Inter-State Championship which was played at the par-72 Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

With a total of 11-under for the week, the 18-year-old ensured that Delhi A, also represented by Gagan Verma (72,76,74,71) cruised to a win with a total of six-under for the week.

Both Manav Das and Abhinav Lohan playing for Haryana A, returned cards of even-par 72, but could only finish distant second, nine shots back at three-over for the tournament. Seventeen shots behind them was the Punjab team of Angad Cheema and Ashbeer Saini held on to third place.

In the individual standings, it was a one-man show as Rashid delivered his biggest victory margin, taking his fifth title this season on the LG Amateur Tour with a margin of 11 shots.

Saurabh Bahuguna fired the second best round of the day, a four-under 68 to finish runner-up with a tournament total of level-par 288. Teammates Manav Das and Abhinav Lohan finished third and fourth respectively while Pune's Moin Malak finished fifth.

Enjoying a comfortable four-shot cushion at the start of the round, Rashid started off with a birdie on the first. He followed it up with a bogey on the par-3 second, which was also the only bogey on his card in the final round. Birdies on the third and fourth helped him move to two-under for the day, and with another birdie on the par-4 eighth, he made the turn at three-under for the day.

With the tournament more or less secured, Rashid then started the back-nine with back-to-back birdies and went to seven-under with an eagle on the par-5 15th which also allowed him to get into double digit figures in the red. A final birdie on the par-4 17th, allowed him to submit the best card of his career.

The round also gave the Delhi Golf Club player his best tournament total in India and pushed his title count on the amateur circuit to nine. But he is now gunning for the bigger title next week.

The LG Goodricke Eastern India Amateur, gets underway at the same venue from December 21 and the final will be played December 27.