Golfer Chikka bags Eagleburg Masters title

Bengalurus S. Chikka shot a sparkling five-under 67 in the final round to end up with a winning total of 15-under 273 at the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Eagleburg Masters here on Friday.

With M. Dharma (69) and Rahil Gangjee (70) finishing as joint runners-up at 13-under 275, the host city of Bengaluru, bagged the top three positions in the tournament.

Chikka (67-69-70-67), lying overnight tied second, one off the lead, lived up to the tag of being the pre-tournament favourite with a timely 67 in the final round.  The 22-year-old reigning Rolex Ranking champion, who had struggled with his putting through the week, got his confidence going early in the fourth round when he converted a 12-feet birdie putt on the fourth, the first par-five on the course.

As Chikka picked up birdies on the next two par-fives, the seventh and 10th, and followed that up with another on the 11th, his confidence soared. Then there was a minor hiccup for him against the run of play on the 14th where he dropped a stroke.

But the two-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) came roaring back with a birdie on the 15th to make it four out of four on the par-fives. 

Thereafter, Chikka took a decisive two-shot lead over closest rivals Dharma and Gangjee, with his last birdie on the 17th where he drove the green. He finally crossed the finish line two ahead of the rest to the delight of the local crowd that included his close friend and India’s golfing numero uno Anirban Lahiri.