White Sulphur Springs (the USA): India’s Anirban Lahiri shot a sensational bogey-free nine-under 61 to get to 12-under 128 and stayed on top of the leaderboard at The Greenbrier Classic golf tournament till Kelly Kraft overtook him by one shot here Friday.
Lahiri, who turned 31 a week ago, has been steadily showing the kind of form that made him the ‘player to watch’ when he first came to the PGA Tour in 2015. In the time since, he has been close but could not get his maiden win.
Lahiri admitted he putted like a dream and had nine birdies. Starting from the 10th, he birdied his first three holes and added a fourth on 14th to be four-under through six holes.
He said he was a bit frustrated when he did not get any more for the next five holes. But then he again went on a spree with a hat-trick of birdies from second to fourth and two more on eighth and ninth. The eighth has been one of the toughest holes this week.
“It was a perfect day to go out there and play. The greens were pure. We played in the afternoon Friday, and they were starting to get a little bumpy. Obviously the rain and just being out early I was able to take advantage of the conditions,” stated Lahiri.
Lahiri is yet to make a bogey in his first trip to The Greenbrier resort course. He found just eight of 14 fairways but reached all 18 greens in regulations. Four of his nine birdies were putts of 18 feet or longer.
Indian challenge fizzles out
Kuching (Malaysia): The Indian challenge did not materialise on the final day of the USD 300,000 Sarawak Championship here Saturday as four of the country’s golfers, including Ganganjeet Bhullar, finished tied 11th. Bhullar, who was lying third after the third round could not replicate his earlier form and with a card of one-under 71 slipped down the ladder. Himmat Rai (68), Ajeetesh Sandhu (67) and S Chikkarangappa (66) also finished in tied 11th with Bhullar.