Shah Alam, Malaysia, 27-02-2016
Chikkarangappa ends runner-up in Malaysia
India’s Chikkarangappa S claimed a brilliant runner-up finish two shots behind Gavin Green of Malaysia at the Asian Development Tour’s (ADT) PGM Northport Glenmarie Championship in Shah Alam, Malaysia on Saturday.
Green closed with a five-under-67 to post a 19-under-269 total at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club’s garden course. Chikka, placed one stroke off the lead in second position after round three, ended up with a 17-under-271 total after his final round of four-under-68.
Chikka, who played with Green for all four rounds, piled the pressure on the Malaysian with an eagle-birdie on 16 and 17 but a bogey on the last dashed his hopes of a possible play-off as he settled for second place in the RM200,000 (approximately US$46,600) event.
Chikkarangappa, who also secured three birdies and a bogey on the first 15 holes, took the defeat in his stride as he was left to rue a missed opportunity to secure a third ADT title and also a first outside of India.
“I didn’t get off to a good start. The putter was cold, especially on the front nine. But I got some momentum back after making birdies on 11 and 14. I sank a 20-footer eagle putt on 16 after punching my rescue from about 255 yards and I went on to birdie 17. That gave me a lot of confidence but unfortunately I didn’t finish well,” said the 22-year-old Indian.
“It was still a fantastic week for me nevertheless, especially playing with new clubs in the bag. I am taking a lot of positives from this week and looking forward to playing in the upcoming events,” added Chikkarangappa, who traded one eagle and four birdies against two bogeys.
Chikka, currently ranked 431 in the world, would also earn some crucial world ranking points with his second-place finish, which would kickstart his campaign to grab the second spot in the Indian team for the Rio Olympics, behind Anirban Lahiri.
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