Chandigarh golfer Angad Cheema ends 11-year title drought, wins Vizag Open

City golfer Angad Cheema pulled off a stunning playoff victory against Patna’s Aman Raj to end his 11-year title drought by winning the Vizag Open-2024, at the East Point Golf Club in Visakhapatnam.

Cheema (69-61-70-68), the overnight leader by three shots, struck a 3-under 68 in the final round to end up with a tournament total of 16-under 268. The city golfer, who had posted six previous top-10s in the season, including two runner-up finishes, shared the top spot after a flurry of birdies by Raj (66-68-69-65) towards the end of the round. Raj delivered the day’s best score of 6-under 65 that drew him level with Cheema at 16-under and took the match into a playoff. Cheema converted an eight feet birdie putt to win the playoff and jumped to third position in the TATA Steel PGTI Ranking. Bengaluru’s Aryan Roopa Anand (67) and Gurugram’s Kartik Sharma (70) finished a distant tied third at a total of 10-under 274.

On a dramatic final day, the 34-year-old Cheema, runner-up on the PGTI last week in Hyderabad, kept a firm grip on proceedings by maintaining his lead with a comfortable three-shot margin till the 16th hole, thanks to his excellent putting as four of his five birdie conversions came from a range of 12 to 20 feet. He dropped only one bogey on this stretch. Cheema found the bunker and made bogey on the 18th, while Raj rallied by sinking three birdie putts from a range of 10 to 15 feet on the last four holes to draw level with Cheema. With Raj gaining the momentum, the match headed into a playoff even as there was a light drizzle to add to the drama.

Cheema then seized the initiative on the playoff hole with his exceptional tee shot and approach shot to set up an eight-footer for victory. Cheema nailed his birdie putt while Raj missed his birdie putt from 20 feet. It was Cheema’s third professional win as he now has two titles on the PGTI and one title on the PGTI Feeder Tour.

“It’s a great relief and a monkey off my back to finally win after so long because I had come close to victory on so many occasions in recent years and had not closed it out. I’m now looking forward to bigger things,” said Cheema. “On the playoff hole, my tee shot was crucial because I had struggled off the tees all day. After Raj hit the fairway with his drive, I knew I had to put it in play to have a good chance and that’s exactly what I did. I then played a terrific approach shot and left myself a good number on the green,” he added.