Round 3 report of the PGTI Feeder Tour event - Patna.

Round 3 report of the PGTI Feeder Tour event - Patna.
Md Islam wins in a playoff amid high drama-Md Nawab, Karan Vasudeva & Rajesh Kumar Rawat are joint runners-up

Patna, August 5, 2011: Md Islam of Patna registered a historic win at his home course on Friday in the final round of the PGTI Feeder Tour-event played at the Patna Golf Club. A new record was established on
the PGTI as Md Islam triumphed against Md Nawab, Karan Vasudeva and Rajesh Kumar Rawat in a marathon playoff encounter that was decided on-the eighth playoff hole. This was the longest running playoff in the-five-year history of the PGTI.

Md Islam (73-66-67) ended the regulation 54 holes of the tournament with a total score of four under 206 after shooting a three under 67 in the final round that included four birdies and a bogey. Md Nawab
(72-65-69), another Patna-based golfer who also happens to be Islam’s younger brother, along with Delhi’s Karan Vasudeva (68-69-69) and Lucknow Rajesh Kumar Rawat (69-68-69) also ended up with a total of
four under 206 after the completion of 18 holes in the third and final round and thus joined Islam in a four-way sudden death playoff to decide the winner.

The playoff was held on the 18th hole. The players were to repeat the18th hole until there was a clear winner.

Rajesh Kumar Rawat was the first casualty in the playoff as he bogeyed the first play off hole while the other three golfers made pars on thesame hole. Karan Vasudeva put up a gallant fight till the fifthplayoff hole but was edged out by Islam and Nawab after he found thegreenside bunker on the fifth hole and as a result made bogey.Vasudeva’s exit meant the two brothers from Patna were left to slug itout for the title. Finally, it was the 49-year-old Islam who prevailed over the 31-year-old Nawab, after the latter missed a two feet putt
for par on the eighth playoff hole.

Md Islam, who won the seventh title of his professional career onFriday, said, “I’m delighted to have won in front of my home crowd. My ball-striking was great all day. A crucial birdie putt from 10 feet on
the 18th hole (final hole of round three) helped me get into theplayoff. I then played some consistent golf by making pars on all the eight playoff holes and kept myself in contention.

“The idea was to hit it to the right of the flag to set up a decentbirdie putt. However, the putts were not rolling for me. Finally, itwas my experience and patience that paid off as Nawab lost focus andmissed an easy par putt on the eighth playoff hole that led to my victory. Mental strength is very important in such close encounters and that’s what helped me win the title.”

Md Islam took home the winner’s cheque worth Rs. 76, 290.

Md Sanju of Kolkata claimed fifth place with a total of one under 209.