Kolkata, 24-03-2024

Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen holds nerve to claim Kolkata Challenge title

Indian Rahil Gangjee finishes joint runner-up, moves into the lead in the TATA Steel PGTI Ranking

SOURCE: CHALLENGE TOUR

PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen held his nerve on the final day of the US$300,000 Kolkata Challenge 2024 to secure a maiden Challenge Tour title at Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

The Dane, who led by four shots going into the final round, held off the challenge of home favourite Rahil Gangjee to win by two strokes after signing for a one under par final round of 71 to go with rounds of 68-65-68 and a 16 under par total.

The 24-year-old secures a maiden Challenge Tour title and a first as a professional, finishing two shots clear of Gangjee and Englishman David Horsey who shared second on 14 under par.

Neergaard-Petersen was delighted to pick up a first win having turned professional less than 12 months ago.

“It feels incredible,” he said. “I’ve been professional for nine months, so to get a win, especially so early in the season, is huge.

“It was a big test out there today. Rahil played great. He kept bouncing back and he gave me a tough run in. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet, but for now, I’m just really happy.”

Neergaard-Petersen started the day four strokes clear and had extended that to five strokes by the eighth hole. However, after back-to-back gains by playing partner Gangjee at the ninth and tenth holes, and when Neergaard-Petersen double-bogeyed the 12th, the Dane’s lead had been cut to one.

Neergaard-Petersen responded with birdies at the 13th and 14th to move clear once again, and despite a late birdie from Gangjee, he would hold on for a memorable victory.

“Going into the final round with a four shot lead, I knew it was going to be difficult at some point, and it came at the 12th hole,” he added. “At that point I really had to tell myself to make good decisions.

“I told myself that I’d been playing well the last couple of holes and over the last few days, and just to trust my game. From there I bounced back after the double bogey with two straight birdies. I’m delighted.”

Rahil Gangjee (70-68-67-69), who produced three birdies and two bogeys on the front-nine before adding two more birdies on the back-nine during his 69 on Sunday, moved into the lead in the TATA Steel PGTI Ranking as a result of earning the runner-up cheque worth INR 22,41,000.

Rahil, who has posted three top-3 finishes out of his four starts so far this season, said, “I’m really pleased with the consistency in my game not only this season but since the latter half of the 2023 season. I thank the Kolkata crowd for being a huge source of support to me this week.”  

Frenchman Alexander Levy finished in fourth place on 11 under par, with Sweden’s Mikael Lindberg and Kristoffer Broberg, and India’s Veer Ahlawat (71) sharing fifth place on 10 under par.

Angad Cheema (72) and Om Prakash Chouhan (70) from India, and Dutchman Wil Besseling finished one shot further back in eighth.