Harendra bags 9th title at Pune Open with final-hole stunner

Chandigarh golfer Harendra Gupta pulled a rabbit out of the hat on the final day, firing two late birdies to clinch his ninth title at the inaugural Pune Open golf tournament here on Friday.

Harendra dashed the hopes of Sri Lankan Anura Rohana and Delhi’s Rashid Khan, scoring a sensational five-under-67 in the final round to end with a total of 15-under 273.

Rohana, who came up with the day’s best effort of eight-under 64, had to settle for tied second place at 14-under 274 along with Rashid, who also fired a 67 in round four of the Rs. 30 lakh event. Harendra, lying overnight tied 2nd, one off the lead, made a steady start with three birdies on the first 11 holes, to keep himself within striking distance of the leaders Rashid Khan and Anura Rohana. His first three birdies were all on the par-5s -- fourth, ninth and 11th. Gupta was one stroke behind Anura and Rashid at 13-under when he stepped on the 16th tee. At that stage Rohana and two-time Asian Tour winner Khan seemed all set to battle it out in a playoff.