New Delhi: An aggressive Khalin Joshi continued India’s domination at the USD 400,000 Panasonic Open India, securing a one-stroke win for his maiden Asian Tour title at the prestigious Delhi Golf Club here, Sunday.
The overnight joint leader fired six birdies in the last 10 holes after a bogey-bogey start to card a four-under 68 on the final day to win the title with a four day aggregate of 17-under 271.
Joshi became the seventh Indian to win the Panasonic Open India in the last eight editions. With his feat, the 26-year-old from Bangalore joined past champions Shiv Kapur (2017), Mukesh Kumar (2016), Chiragh Kumar (2015), SSP Chowrasia (2014), Digvijay Singh (2012) and Anirban Lahiri (2011).
“I have no words. Huge monkey off my back. I think I played really well…Kept my nerves and played really solid coming in. Last few holes were key for me. I am really relieved and happy to win,” Joshi said after bagging a winner’s cheque of USD 72,000.
“I don’t know if it was nerves but just poor decision making I guess, starting off with two bogeys. But I still knew that there was a lot of golf to be played. I was playing well and it was just a matter of time,” he added.
Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman (69), who too entered the final day as a joint leader, stayed in contention till the final hole before finishing second after parring the 18th, as Joshi picked up a birdie.
Ajeetesh Sandhu produced a second successive two-under 70 to share the third spot with Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai (69).