Kolkata: Delhi lad Delhi lad Arjun Sharma reserved the best for the last as he stunned an in-form BR Raja to grab the title in the prestigious Tata Steel Eastern India Amateur that culminated here on Sunday. In the 36-hole final, the DLF Golf & Country Club amateur beat the Bangalorean 4&3 to wrest the crown.

Arjun after a creditable run up to the final where he had felled higher ranked players such as Syed Saqib Ahmed in the pre-quarters and Gagan Verma in the quarterfinals was lucky to get a bye in the semifinal after Simarjeet Singh withdrew. But he proved a worthy winner as he kept his cool and increased the tempo when it was required to seal his victory.
 

The first half of the 36-hole final saw both the players making a tentative approach, testing each other’s prowess that is required for match-play. Raja drew first blood by making a birdie on the opening hole to go 1-up before losing the third hole as parity was restored. Raja once again went ahead on the seventh hole before making a bogey on the 10th to lose the advantage. Arjun took the lead for the first time in the match on the par-3 13th where Raja made a bogey against the former’s par. However, the scores were level on the very next hole with Raja winning the hole with a par. The duo then squared the next four holes to remain at par after the first 18.

Arjun was a changed player after the break as he made two birdies in the first three holes to go 3-up. Raja birdied the next hole to reduce the margin but was back to 3-down on the next hole with a bogey. Arjun meanwhile maintained the pressure on his rival as he won three of the next five holes to go 6-up and virtually seal the fate of the match. The Bangalore lad showed a semblance of a fight as he won the next three holes to reduce margin to 3-down. However with four holes to go, he made a double bogey on the 33rd (15th hole of the course) to hand Arjun his maiden victory on the Tata Steel Indian Amateur Tour.

“I am elated at my maiden victory. I am even more ecstatic to win at a historic course such as the RCGC,” said Arjun Sharma. “I knew Raja was a good player and I was testing him in the first half of the match and I played according to my plan of going for the kill in the second half. I am happy that my plan succeeded,” said the winner.

Final result (36 hole)

12-Arjun Sharma bt 6-BR Raja 4 & 3.