Jamshedpur: M Dharma of Bangalore joined the winner’s circle on the PGTI after a three-stroke victory at the Rs.50 lakh 12th TATA Open here today.
Dharma fired a two-under-69 in the final round to end up with a tournament total of 13-under-272. Jamshedpur-based amateur Karan Taunk had a creditable runner-up finish at 10-under-275. Today, the entire field played nine holes each on both courses – Beldih and Golmuri. While one half of the field teed off from Beldih, the other half began its round from Golmuri.
Thirty-three golfers with the best scores at the end of round three teed off from Golmuri and finished at Beldih. The par for the combined courses was 71. M Dharma (66-70-67-69), the overnight joint leader, made three birdies against a lone bogey in the fourth round to finally break the victory barrier in his ninth year on the professional circuit.
The 27-year-old Dharma, who hails from Bangalore, played a steady final round as he made good chip-putts for birdies on the fourth, ninth and 12th to stay ahead through the day. The only blemish on his card was the bogey on the eighth that came as a result of a three-putt.
Local amateur Karan Taunk (67-69-69-70), lying third after round three, delighted the home crowd with his second-place finish after returning a one-under-70 in the last round. Karan, who will be turning professional at the PGTI’s Qualifying School in January 2014, sank four birdies and dropped three bogeys on Saturday. He played a good chip for birdie on the ninth and converted birdie putts from 10 to 15 feet on the 13th and 15th.
This was Taunk’s best-ever finish in a professional event. Delhi’s Shamim Khan (68-72-71-66) claimed third place with a total score of eight-under-277. Shamim carded a five-under-66 in the final round that featured six birdies and a bogey. Manav Jaini of Delhi was a further shot behind in fourth position.
