Bharat Classic winner Poosit Supupramai poses with his trophy after edging out Korea’s Wooyoung Cho at the Kensville Golf Resort near Ahmedabad on Sunday. Image courtesy Asian Tour.
By Rahul Banerji
Ahmedabad: Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai won the inaugural Bharath Classic by one shot from hard-charging Korean Wooyoung Cho at the Kensville Golf Resort on Sunday.
Poosit birdied the 18th hole to hold off Cho even as Sachin Baisoya picked up shots in bunches to tie for third as the best Indian finisher at the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Indian Golf Premier League.
Poosit’s closing 69 gave him a tournament total of 18 under par 270 while Cho (65) finished a shot behind on 17 under 271.
Baisoya, an IGPL Tour regular was tied on 15 under along with overnight leader Jazz Janewattanond, and Panuphol Pittayarat and Ekpharit Wu, all of Thailand. Ahmedabad’s Ishaan Chawhan was the best-finishing amateur in tied eighth place.
“Amazing, I can’t believe it,” said the soft-spoken Poosit, whose previous best result on the Asian Tour was joint third at last year’s SJM Macao Open.
“I was struggling on the front nine, I was not playing well. It was all about mindset that got me through today.
“I came here to try and improve my ranking on the Merit list. It was on my mind, not winning. But to secure my card this week with the win, it’s beyond my dreams.
Key change
“Before the last two tournaments I changed the loft and lie on my putter. It made such a big difference – I started holing putts.”
The 32-year-old left Ahmedabad richer by $90,000 from the $500,000 event prize pool.
Chawhan (71) continued his brilliant run to tie for eighth place, while PGTI Ranking leader Yuvraj Sandhu (67) was sole seventh on 14 under 274.
The round of the day though came from Baisoya who returned a bogey-free 62 on Sunday.
Starting from the 10th tee, Baisoya opened with six straight birdies to make the turn at this par-72 course on 6 under 30.
On the second nine, he went on another birdie blitz with four in a row between holes two and five with two good par saves on holes 18 and one.
“I owe this round a lot to my iron play today,” Sachin said later.
Natural approach
“Practiced for about an hour yesterday as I felt I was hitting my irons badly for the last three or four tournaments. I also took some coaching from Sudhir Sharma, who told me not to worry and just play my natural game.
“The plan was to try something different today and that is exactly what happened from the start. Most of my approach shots landed between three and five feet and my putting was solid.”
Ahmedabad amateur Ishaan Chawhan, who was impressive throughout the tournament, in action on Sunday at the Kensville course. Image courtesy IGPL.
The left-handed Chawhan said later that the four days had been an extended golf lesson.
“Playing with all the Asian Tour players, watching them and talking to them has been a learning experience,” the soft-spoken 22-year-old, who lost almost a year and a half to injury said.
“I went in with the mindset that I had nothing to lose save making a point to myself.
Back on track
“Was away from golf for different phases, which added up to one-and-half years, with injuries to the wrist and knee, and this is my first full season in four years.”
On what helped him return cards of 67, 69, 68 and 71 in this quality field, Chawan said, “Even though I play here regularly, the course was set up differently to what we get as amateurs, and that was a challenge.
“For me the highlight of the week has to be my iron play as the other aspects of my game weren’t that great.”
Asked what was next, the Vijay Divecha trainee added, “I might turn pro but will have a talk with my coach first. Right now, the focus is on the All-India Amateur next month at Tollygunge Club.”
PGTI Order of Merit leader Sandhu too was pleased at his display here. “I started slowly (level par 72 on Thursday) but after that the momentum was good.
“But for a few shots and outts that I left out there, I could have been in much closer contention (at 14 under, five shots behind winner Poosit) than I was.”
Also read: Chawan holds his own as Thais Jazz, Poosit share Kensville lead
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