Vijay Kumar wins Dutch-Bangla Bank title

Vijay Kumar annexed his second succesive title in Bangladesh, with a victory at the inaugural Dutch-Bangla Bank Open, being played at the par-72, Kurmitola Golf Club course on Saturday.

Vijay tallied a winning score of 11-under 277 to take home the winner’s cheque of Rs 1,62,000 (INR). At second spot was Mukesh Kumar at 10-under 278. Indrajit Bhalotia finished third with five-under 283.

Inspite of playing to one-over 73, Vijay Kumar managed to keep his nose ahead in the leader pack throughout the entire round. But for Saturday's over par score, Vijay had the best under par scores on all the previous three days. He started with a birdie on the first hole and finished level par for the front nine and on the back nine he birdied the 12th and the 14th hole but bogeyed the 13th,15th, 18th holes.

Mukesh Kumar had opportunities galore to put pressure on the leader but was unable to do so.

"My putting let me down," he lamented after the round.

He finished the round with a good birdie on the 18th hole to finish within one shot of the leader. Uttam Singh Mundy felt that his feel for the game let him down today as nothing worked out for him and he managed to finish in the ninth place with a score of 289.

Indrajit Bhalotia appeared to apply some pressure initially but alas the good performance came rather too late. Indrajit scored a two-under 34 on the front nine and a one under 35 on the back nine. His three-under 69 was the best score for the day.

"Some erratic driving was what let me down," commented an exuberant Vijay. "I am doubly happy because I have won both the tournaments in Bangladesh. I am definitely looking forward to be back here again to make it three in a row."

Mohd. Rezaual Karim finished with a score of three over 291 to finish in the overall 15th place. The youngster had a round of five over 77 for the day with his three over on the ninth hole leaving him exasparated but it was a very creditable performance from the youngster who got the better of the other local professionals like Chand Mia, Babu Ahmed and Mohd. Norul Islam Gani.

Amongst the Nepali entrants Deepak Magar had an aggregate score of 313 to finish at the fifty first place followed by Radheshyam Thapa at the fifty second spot with a score of 318 and Pashupati Sharma finishing at the fifty-fourth spot with a score of 321.

The only unfortunate incident was that KPS Sekhon had to be disqualified from the tournament because of his ignorance in understanding the local rule. He ignored the penalty stroke which he got when his ball landed up in an environmentally sensitive area, submitting in the process a wrong scorecard.

In the amateur section Mohd. Milon emerged the winner with a score of 8 over 297 he played a four over 76 for the final round at second place was Mohd. Hussain who finished with a score of 304 but had the conciliation of recording his best score for the tournament, a one over 73.

SCORES (after 72 holes) : 277_Vijay Kumar (67,67,70,73); 278_Mukesh Kumar (68,68,71,71); 283_Indrajit Bhalotia (73,70, 71,69); 286_Harmeet Kahlon (69,67, 75,75); 287_Feroz Ali (75, 70,70,72); 288_Sanjay Kumar (69,75,72,72); 289_Vinod Kumar (67,72,76,74); 289_Vishal Singh (68, 70,77,74); 289_Uttam Singh Mundy (68,70,72,79); 290_Amish Jaitha (74, 74,69,72)

Amateurs: 297_Mohd Milon (72,72,77,76); 304_Mohd Hussain (79, 77, 75,73)