Thangaraja bags Ahmedabad Open
Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja brought home the bacon, clinching the coveted title at the ₹1 crore Ahmedabad Open Golf Championship at Kensville Golf and Country Club. The 43-year-old, representing Royal Colombo Golf Club, secured a five-shot victory over India’s Yashas Chandra with a final total of eight-under 280. This win marks his fifth title on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), netting him a cheque of Indian Rupees 1.5 million and cementing his place as one of South Asia’s finest golfers.
Thangaraja in action
Thangaraja, who led by five shots heading into the final round, knew the key to victory was keeping things simple. His round of one-over 73 on Friday, which included a birdie and two bogeys, was more than enough to hold off his competitors.
“I didn’t need to do anything fancy,” Thangaraja said after the win.
“When the gap between myself and the others kept growing, I focused on playing steady, hitting fairways and greens. By the time I reached the back-nine, I was fairly confident I had the win in the bag.”
This win is undoubtedly a feather in the cap for Sri Lankan golf. The tournament, one of the biggest in South Asia, attracted top golfers from India, including Olympic medalists.
Thangaraja’s triumph, coming off a solid start, has added a new chapter to Sri Lanka’s golfing history. Fellow Sri Lankan K. Prabakaran also put on a strong performance, showing that the island nation’s golfers are making an impact in the regional field.