Thomas Aiken receiving the Avantha Masters 2013 Trophy from Mr. Gautam Thapar, Chairman and CEO, Avantha Group.
Bhullar gives Aiken a run for money, but still
finishes second at Avantha Masters
Greater NOIDA, March 17: Gaganjeet Bhullar waged a magnificent battle with a stunning
eight-under 64, the best card of the final day, but still lost by three shots
to the steady Thomas Aiken of South Africa at the Avantha Masters in Jaypee
Greens Resort Golf Club.
The 29-year-old Aiken shot a bogeyfree 67 on the heels of a
superb 62 on third day and totaled a superb 23-under 265, while Bhullar, who
had predicted a 20-under total for a win, did reach that but was still well
short.
It was the Aiken’s second European Tour title, while Bhullar
achieved his best ever European Tour results, but that will carry him to he top
of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Aiken’s performance on Saturday for a 62 was a ball-striking
masterclass and on Sunday he carried on and carded a 67.
Bhullar waged a strong challenge, and so did China’s Liang
Wen-chong (69), who also had the tournament’s only hole-in-one par-3 seventh.
Liang finished at 18-under with the final round including five birdies, two
bogeys, one double bogey and one ace.
Kiradech Aphinbarnrat (69) also posed a challenge at one
stage, but Aiken stayed steady, and the Thai ended at 17-under in fourth place.
Bhullar apart, Himmat Rai (65) had the day’s second best
round and finished in a tie for ninth place at 14-under.
Among other Indians, Jeev Milkha Singh (71), Rahil Gangjee
(71) and Anirban Lahiri (71) ended in a tie for 23rd, while Jyoti
Randhawa (70) was tied 29th. Rashid Khan cracked an error-free 66
and ended in a tie for tied 34th at nine-under.
Aiken said, “I’ve been playing very nicely the last four
months, not making a lot of mistakes, but just not sinking enough putts.”
“This week a few went
in, I hit some better iron shots which gave me a better chance to sink some
putts, and I played some phenomenal golf.”
Bhullar said, “I was actually worried before this week and
then I spoke to my coach. We worked on some of the mistakes I was making. We
exchanged swing videos and he told me what to do. The trick today was the way
my putting worked. I got off to a great start with three birdies and an eagle
on fifth. It gave me the momentum that I needed.”
“I wanted to try for a win and my caddie kept motivating me.
Basically no one remembers the second place guy after sometime. It is only the
winner who stays in the history books. Being second or 40th does not
matter. For instance my friends, fans and some may remember I was second here,
but Thomas Aiken’s name will be there in the books,” he added.
Bhullar continued, “So I went for the flag on the 14th
and was rewarded with a birdie. I had another 40-feet conversion on the 17th.
However, I couldn’t catch up with Thomas who played a fabulous round. Aiken
putted better and that made all the difference. Thomas was simply superb.
And then he holed a fine birdie to finish in style.”
Bhullar came with an aggressive plan as he revealed, “The
plan was to hit 14 fairways and 18 greens and make all putts in order to have a
chance. I thought I’d give it hundred per cent when I started today. I was
aggressive at the start and it paid off with birdies on the first three holes
and an eagle on the fifth. I drove the green on the fifth for the third
successive day and followed it up with a 40-feet putt.”
But he was put back by a bogey on eighth. “The bogey on the
eighth came at the wrong time for me as I pulled my drive into the trees. I
then sank birdies on the 10th, 14th, 15th and
17th,” he added.
If Aiken’s brilliant third round was the catalyst for
victory, there was still plenty of work to do on the final day.
Bhullar came flying out of the blocks, and looked as though
he may add a European Tour title to the Challenge Tour victory he recorded on
home soil two years ago when he followed birdies at the first three holes with
an eagle at the 356 yard par four fifth after driving the green.
Aiken’s playing partner Liang also closed in with birdies at
the second and fourth, but the 2011 Open de España winner responded by holing a
six footer at the second to remain two clear.
Aiken knocked in an eight footer at the fifth to go to 20
under, and when Bhullar bogeyed the eighth and Liang double-crossed his tee
shot right into bushes at the sixth, took a penalty drop, and eventually
three-putted for a double bogey, the South African was four ahead.
However, as quickly as Liang’s title chances looked to have
evaporated they reignited with an eight iron ace at the short seventh which
halved the deficit.
Bhullar birdied three of the last five to set the clubhouse
target at 20 under par, but Aiken completed regulation birdies on both par
fives on the back nine – he almost eagled both – then sunk a 20-footer across
the final green for a fitting finale.
“These guys kept coming at me today – Liang on the front nine
and then Bhullar made some amazing birdies coming in,” added Aiken. “It was by
no means a walk in the park.
“I want to dedicate this to my wife Kate – being the wife of
a sportsman is not easy and she supports me so much, so this one’s for you
Kate.”
Bhullar’s brilliant 64 gave him second, with Liang two shots
further back in third following a 69.
“I had a great week in India,” said Liang, whose only
European Tour victory remains the 2007 Singapore Masters. “Although I did
not win, I learnt a lot about myself, especially today. To card a double-bogey
on the sixth and make a comeback with a hole-in-one on the next hole showed
lots of character.
“Unfortunately I could not make as many putts as I would to,
but that’s golf. You win some and you lose some. I tried my best and that’s all
I can ever ask for.”
For further details, please
contact:
The European Tour Communications
Department
Tel: +44 1344 840400
Email: Media@europeantour.com
Mrs. Shravani Dang
VP & Group Head - Corporate
Communications, Avantha
Tel: +91 9811261080
Email: s.dang@avanthagroup.com
Mr. Nikhil Kalaan
Assistant Manager - Media, PGTI
Tel: +91 99109 74846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
Thomas Aiken receiving the Avantha Masters 2013 Trophy from Mr. Gautam Thapar, Chairman and CEO, Avantha Group.
Bhullar gives Aiken a run for money, but still
finishes second at Avantha Masters
Greater NOIDA, March 17: Gaganjeet Bhullar waged a magnificent battle with a stunning
eight-under 64, the best card of the final day, but still lost by three shots
to the steady Thomas Aiken of South Africa at the Avantha Masters in Jaypee
Greens Resort Golf Club.
The 29-year-old Aiken shot a bogeyfree 67 on the heels of a
superb 62 on third day and totaled a superb 23-under 265, while Bhullar, who
had predicted a 20-under total for a win, did reach that but was still well
short.
It was the Aiken’s second European Tour title, while Bhullar
achieved his best ever European Tour results, but that will carry him to he top
of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Aiken’s performance on Saturday for a 62 was a ball-striking
masterclass and on Sunday he carried on and carded a 67.
Bhullar waged a strong challenge, and so did China’s Liang
Wen-chong (69), who also had the tournament’s only hole-in-one par-3 seventh.
Liang finished at 18-under with the final round including five birdies, two
bogeys, one double bogey and one ace.
Kiradech Aphinbarnrat (69) also posed a challenge at one
stage, but Aiken stayed steady, and the Thai ended at 17-under in fourth place.
Bhullar apart, Himmat Rai (65) had the day’s second best
round and finished in a tie for ninth place at 14-under.
Among other Indians, Jeev Milkha Singh (71), Rahil Gangjee
(71) and Anirban Lahiri (71) ended in a tie for 23rd, while Jyoti
Randhawa (70) was tied 29th. Rashid Khan cracked an error-free 66
and ended in a tie for tied 34th at nine-under.
Aiken said, “I’ve been playing very nicely the last four
months, not making a lot of mistakes, but just not sinking enough putts.”
“This week a few went
in, I hit some better iron shots which gave me a better chance to sink some
putts, and I played some phenomenal golf.”
Bhullar said, “I was actually worried before this week and
then I spoke to my coach. We worked on some of the mistakes I was making. We
exchanged swing videos and he told me what to do. The trick today was the way
my putting worked. I got off to a great start with three birdies and an eagle
on fifth. It gave me the momentum that I needed.”
“I wanted to try for a win and my caddie kept motivating me.
Basically no one remembers the second place guy after sometime. It is only the
winner who stays in the history books. Being second or 40th does not
matter. For instance my friends, fans and some may remember I was second here,
but Thomas Aiken’s name will be there in the books,” he added.
Bhullar continued, “So I went for the flag on the 14th
and was rewarded with a birdie. I had another 40-feet conversion on the 17th.
However, I couldn’t catch up with Thomas who played a fabulous round. Aiken
putted better and that made all the difference. Thomas was simply superb.
And then he holed a fine birdie to finish in style.”
Bhullar came with an aggressive plan as he revealed, “The
plan was to hit 14 fairways and 18 greens and make all putts in order to have a
chance. I thought I’d give it hundred per cent when I started today. I was
aggressive at the start and it paid off with birdies on the first three holes
and an eagle on the fifth. I drove the green on the fifth for the third
successive day and followed it up with a 40-feet putt.”
But he was put back by a bogey on eighth. “The bogey on the
eighth came at the wrong time for me as I pulled my drive into the trees. I
then sank birdies on the 10th, 14th, 15th and
17th,” he added.
If Aiken’s brilliant third round was the catalyst for
victory, there was still plenty of work to do on the final day.
Bhullar came flying out of the blocks, and looked as though
he may add a European Tour title to the Challenge Tour victory he recorded on
home soil two years ago when he followed birdies at the first three holes with
an eagle at the 356 yard par four fifth after driving the green.
Aiken’s playing partner Liang also closed in with birdies at
the second and fourth, but the 2011 Open de España winner responded by holing a
six footer at the second to remain two clear.
Aiken knocked in an eight footer at the fifth to go to 20
under, and when Bhullar bogeyed the eighth and Liang double-crossed his tee
shot right into bushes at the sixth, took a penalty drop, and eventually
three-putted for a double bogey, the South African was four ahead.
However, as quickly as Liang’s title chances looked to have
evaporated they reignited with an eight iron ace at the short seventh which
halved the deficit.
Bhullar birdied three of the last five to set the clubhouse
target at 20 under par, but Aiken completed regulation birdies on both par
fives on the back nine – he almost eagled both – then sunk a 20-footer across
the final green for a fitting finale.
“These guys kept coming at me today – Liang on the front nine
and then Bhullar made some amazing birdies coming in,” added Aiken. “It was by
no means a walk in the park.
“I want to dedicate this to my wife Kate – being the wife of
a sportsman is not easy and she supports me so much, so this one’s for you
Kate.”
Bhullar’s brilliant 64 gave him second, with Liang two shots
further back in third following a 69.
“I had a great week in India,” said Liang, whose only
European Tour victory remains the 2007 Singapore Masters. “Although I did
not win, I learnt a lot about myself, especially today. To card a double-bogey
on the sixth and make a comeback with a hole-in-one on the next hole showed
lots of character.
“Unfortunately I could not make as many putts as I would to,
but that’s golf. You win some and you lose some. I tried my best and that’s all
I can ever ask for.”
For further details, please
contact:
The European Tour Communications
Department
Tel: +44 1344 840400
Email: Media@europeantour.com
Mrs. Shravani Dang
VP & Group Head - Corporate
Communications, Avantha
Tel: +91 9811261080
Email: s.dang@avanthagroup.com
Mr. Nikhil Kalaan
Assistant Manager - Media, PGTI
Tel: +91 99109 74846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
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