Chandigarh, December 29
Rahul Bakshi of the Chandigarh Golf Club shot a career-best round of 75 on the final day to win the sub-junior title (under-15) for 2003 at the All-India Junior and Subjunior Golf Tournament held at Classic Golf Resort, Gurgaon. Rahul beat his nearest rival, Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur by 7 strokes. This achievement becomes all the more creditable since he is the youngest among top 5 subjunior golfers of India.

Karan Taunk played good golf on the first two days and was leading by eight strokes after the second round. But Rahul Bakshi came back strongly on the third day and even after hitting seven sand bunkers, had a round of 76 which included only 24 putts. Karan meanwhile could manage only a round of 83 which cut down his lead to one stroke.

Giving details of the tournament, Dr GS Kochhar, Chairman, Media and Publicity, Chandigarh golf Club, said the final day started with dense fog conditions which resulted in a two hour delay. For the second time in the tournament the organisers were forced to have a shot-gun start. When play started, the conditions were still very foggy and cold. But play warmed up quickly. On the very first hole, Rahul Bakshi pitched in for a birdie from 50 yards off the green and the score was level between him and Karan. Then for the front nine holes, lead changed hands several times as Karan hit his drives long and accurately for close to 300 yards and Rahul with his 250 yard drives managed to convert his chip and putts.

At the turn, Karan was up by two strokes and the All India Subjunior title seemed to be in his grasp. But Karan dropped shots on each of next four holes whereas Rahul made two regulation and 2 chip-putt pars. At the 15th tee, the competition was still very close as Rahul Bakshi was leading by only two strokes with difficult holes yet to come. But for the first time in the tournament, Karan faltered with his driver and failed to hit good recovery shots as a result of which on the short par-4 15th hole, he reached the green in five strokes and then 3-putted for a quadruple bogey. Rahul meanwhile made par from the greenside bunker and suddenly his lead increased to six stokes. Both players made pars on 16th and 17th holes. On the final hole of the tournament, Karan bogeyed from green-side and Rahul made a chip-putt par to win the title by 7 strokes.

Scores:

Category A (under 18) Jaskirat Dullet (291), Ajeetesh Sandhu (295), Aditya Singh (296).

Category B (under 15): Rahul Bakshi (315), Karan Taunk (322), Raghav Wahi (326).

Category C (under 13): Madhav Soi (315) Amanvir S. Guron (326), Rashid Khan (327).

Saurabh is an allrounder and apart from his batting skills, which he displayed all these years, it was the right arm medium pace bowling which brought him much accolades.

The journey of Saurabh’s grooming began when he was a student of St John’s High School, Sector 26, where he passed his class X examinations with 80 per cent marks. But the beginning of his cricket career began at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, under the guidance of Surinder Singh ‘Baijee’. His real dedication to game was followed at the instance of Baijee where he is a regular trainee.

Saurabh’s afternoon schedule is followed at DAV Coaching centre, Sector 8, where SAI coach S. Bawa trains him.

Prior to this, Saurabh had taken part in the Haryana state inter-district cricket meet for under-17 group held for Rajinder Goel Trophy and helped Chandigarh in reaching the final. Later, he led the Chandigarh under-19 team for the Pataudi Trophy. Only few months back, in a speed contest, he bowled at 122 Kmh. Saurabh was also picked up by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the new academy being run at the Sector 16 Cricket stadium.