Aman Raj… Top Indian at KGA Challenge
Aman Raj collects second Top-10 finish in two week, Frenchman Coussaud wins KGA Challenge
Bengaluru, March 31: Aman Raj picked his second straight Top-10 finish as he ended tied sixth in The Challenge 2023 presented by KGA. He shot 3-under 69, his fourth successive round in the 60s, as he compiled cards of 68-67-69-69 to finish 15-under 273.
A week earlier he was tied eighth at the Black Bull Challenge, which was the first of the two Challenge Tour events in India, as the Tour returned to India after a gap of 10 years. The Black Bull Challenge was won by India’s OP Chouhan, who this week missed the cut.
Aman Raj was the best Indian and the next best were Veer Ahlawat (72-69-65-69) and left hander Kartik Sharma (66-67-70-72)) who were both tied 11th.
While Aman had a good finish, Frenchman Ugo Coussaud claimed his first win on the European Challenge Tour as he posted a five-under par final round of 67 at Karnataka Golf Association.
Coussaud birdied two of the last three holes to get to 18-under for the week and secure his maiden triumph. Spaniard Manuel Elvira (70-67-68-66), who shot the day’s best 66, finished joint runner-up along with Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach (69-64-68-70) at 17-under par each.
Coussaud also rose to the top of the Road to Mallorca Rankings following an emphatic start to the year which has seen him register a win and two other top ten finishes.
The 30-year-old Coussaud (68-67-68-67) was overnight tied sixth and four off the lead. He came from behind in dramatic fashion to triumph by one shot at a total of 18-under 270 at the event co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and PGTI.
While Ugo’s first win on the Challenge Tour earned him a prize money cheque of US$48,000, Aman Raj earned just over US$ 10,000.
Aman Raj, lying overnight tied eighth and five off the lead, had a slow start with a three-putt bogey on the second. He then put together four birdies but missed a couple of eagle putts and some birdie putts towards the end that halted his progress.
Aman gained two spots on the final day and posted his fourth top-10 in four starts this season on the PGTI to cement himself in second position in the TATA Steel PGTI Rankings behind Om Prakash Chouhan.
Aman said, “The putts didn’t fall for me today but I’m pleased with my performance over the last two weeks with eight under-par rounds. The game is trending in the right direction. One got to learn a lot playing alongside the Challenge Tour players over the last two weeks. I’m happy with the way I’ve played so far this season.”
The other Indians in the top-20 were Veer Ahlawat and Kartik Sharma, both finishing tied 11th at 13-under 275 and Karan Pratap Singh who ended tied 18th at 12-under 276.
Frenchman Frederic Lacroix (70) and round three leader Lars Van Meijel (73) of The Netherlands, shared fourth place at 16-under 272.
Ugo said, “I didn’t know when it was coming, but I knew it was coming. After five years on the Challenge Tour, it’s not that quick but I’m very happy indeed. It means a lot. I’ve put a lot of work in with my team and it feels good to be on top. My golf has just taken time to come together but now it’s good.
“I’ve been patient for 72 holes. That’s golf. You need to be patient, and it takes more time for some than others but when it comes, it’s good.”
The Road to Mallorca now takes a four week break before the Abu Dhabi Challenge takes place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from April 27 – 30
