Kolkata: Bangalore lad BR Raja, although seeded a rank higher than his opponent who is more known for finishing on the top of the Order of Merit last year and being India, proved that golf is all about keeping the nerves when he beat Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur 1-up to enter the finals of the Tata Steel Eastern India Amateur being played at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club here on Saturday.

The sixth seed Raja will clash with 12th seed Arjun Sharma who did not have to break a sweat as his opponent Simarjeet Singh conceded the match even before teeing it up.

It was Karan who held sway in the initial part of the semifinal duel with Raja as he won two consecutive holes on the third and fourth to go 2-up. However Raja drew parity when he won the seventh and the ninth holes. After a heated contest where both the players made pars on the first three holes of their back nine, the amateur from Eagleton Golf Resort made a birdie on the 13th hole to go 1-up and held on to win the match.


“I have been in good nick through the week and I look forward to win my maiden title on the Amateur circuit,” said Raja. “I knew Karan is a better player. My only mantra was to not commit a mistake and stick to making pars as this is a tough track,” he added.

Results (semifinals)

12-Arjun Sharma bt 17-Simarjeet Singh (conceded); 6-BR Raja bt 7-Karan Taunk 1-up