Honey Baisoya returns to winner's circle, claims J&K Open title

Honey Baisoya returned into the winner's circle after posting an 18-under 270 to win J&K Open by four strokes over Veer Ahlawat at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar.

Baisoya, the overnight leader by four shots, made five birdies against a single bogey to end his three-year title drought and comfortably grab his seventh title on the professional golf tour of India.

Gurugram-based Veer Ahlawat (67-71-70-66) also made his presence felt in the last round with a score of 66 to finish second at 14-under 274.

Aman Raj of Patna posted a 66 on day four to take third place at 13-under 275.

An elated Honey, who had just one top-20 from 10 starts in the season prior to this week’s event, said, “It still feels like a dream because till last week I was very low on confidence and not even sure of shooting an under-par score. So this win is all the more special.

Veer Ahlawat posted his second straight runner-up finish on the PGTI to move up from fifth to third in the Order of Merit. Ahlawat’s last round featured an eagle-two on the par-4 11th where he found the hole with his approach from 108 yards. He also made five birdies and a bogey to gain six spots in round four.

Om Prakash Chouhan and Angad Cheema shared fourth place at 12-under 276. Chiragh Kumar finished a further shot back in sixth place at 11-under 277.

Kolkata’s Viraj Madappa shot the day’s best score of 65 to secure tied seventh along with Kartik Sharma of Gurugram at 10-under 278.

The 11-time PGTI champion Rashid Khan, PGTI Order of Merit leader Karandeep Kochhar of Chandigarh and the young Kshitij Naveed Kaul were bunched in tied 12th at eight-under 280.

Chikkarangappa, the last winner at Royal Springs Golf Course, finished tied 32nd at one-under 287.