Beau Champ, Mauritius, 02-12-2018
Chikkarangappa claims a career-best tied second in Mauritius, seals his Asian Tour card for 2019
India’s Chikkarangappa S claimed a career-best tied second finish on the Asian Tour after carding a final round of five-under-67 at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Chikka, a two-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), posted scores of 64, 68, 71 and 67 at the Four Seasons Golf Club at Anahita this week to end up with a total of 18-under-270.
Kurt Kitayama of the United States won the European Tour and Asian Tour co-sanctioned US$1.14 million event with a total score of 20-under-268.
Chikka has also given his position on the merit list a significant boost after grabbing a share of second place with Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, and earning US$104,365.
After being in a position where he was fighting to make it into the top-60, Chikka has now climbed to 26th in the money list thus virtually sealing his Asian Tour card for the 2019 season.
Chikkarangappa finished the way he started the tournament - bogey-free. He showed his raw emotions on the 16th after making a difficult birdie and carried the momentum to the following hole. A difficult par save on the 18th ensured that he maintained his tied-second position.
Chikka, who began his hot streak when he ended a two-year title drought at a PGTI event in Chandigarh last month, credited his recent success to the tweaks he made to his swing two months ago.
Chikka was the best putter in Mauritius as he was ranked first in average putts per round (26) and average putts per green-in-regulation (1.509).
The young Bengalurean said, “It was a fantastic round today. Looking at the scoreboard, the leading guys were making the golf course look like a mini-golf course. It must have been 20 or 21 under in the first four or five holes. Which was why I told myself that I must charge. I’ve played to a solid finish today, which was much needed. I’m very happy with it.
“The 16th and 17th were the rollercoaster putts. I was under pressure to make those and I’m proud of myself for being able to do so. Before those holes, I saw the scoreboard and told myself that I have a great chance of heading up there. I have to finish within the top-four. The putt on 16th was amazing. It was 100 per cent perfection.
“On the 18th as well it was a great par putt. There was no sand where I was and the ball came out hot and running. I parred the hole to save a lot of money, which will help my position on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.
“After shooting an eight-under-par in the first round, a win was on my mind. I just failed by two shots. I’m going to the positives from this week. I can smile and say that my Asian Tour card is done now. I can head out to South Africa for another week and I can go and just look for a win.
“I’m in a better place [on the merit list] compared to last year. I’m going to South Africa and the Indonesian Masters with a bigger smile than I had this week.”
Shubhankar Sharma continues to lead the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity standings with season’s earnings of US$755,994. Korean Sanghyun Park is second with earnings of US$561,898.
Among the Indians playing in Mauritius, Ajeetesh Sandhu had the next best finish as he took a share of 28th place at seven-under-281.
At the Asian Tour’s Queen’s Cup in Thailand, India’s Shiv Kapur secured tied sixth place at 11-under-269. He finished nine shots behind the champion Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines.
Source: Asian Tour
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