Lahiri laughes his way to victory at Panasonic Open
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India's Anirban Lahiri won the inaugural Panasonic Open (India) by defeating Singapore's Mardan Mamat and compatriot Manav Jaini in a three-way play-off after the trio had ended regulation play on 13-under-par 275 total on Saturday.
Lahiri, who posted a final round one-under-par 71, secured his maiden title with a birdie on the 18th play-off hole as Mardan and Jaini could only managed to make pars at the newest US$300,000 event on the Asian Tour which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).
The 23-year-old Indian was clearly delighted with his career breakthrough on the Asian Tour as he never had a good record at the Delhi Golf Club and was always receiving jokes about his inability to win at the venerable golf club.
"This is really a special feeling for me. Somebody once told me that if I could win at the Delhi Golf Club, I would probably be laughing as I have had such a bad record here. I guess the joke is on them now," said Lahiri.
The title race for the Panasonic Open (India) went all the way down to the wire with the pressure-packed final round for all to see.
Lahiri had trailed overnight leader Mardan by three shots going into the final round and he opened his round well with an opening birdie before dropping two shots on holes three and nine.
He made another birdie on the 10th hole before another bogey on the par-three 12th set him back again.
However it was a magical eagle-three on the par-five 14th which led him back to the summit for a share of the lead with four holes remaining.
The lead was shared between Jaini and Lahiri until Mardan birdied his closing 18th to take inaugural event into a play-off.
"I'm happy that I kept myself in it because I was always trailing in the back-nine so I'm really happy to be able to come from that position and win," said Lahiri.
"Before the play-off started, I gave a quick call to my psychologist and he told me to concentrate and believe in my abilities and I guess it paid off," added Lahiri.
Mardan was left to rue another missed opportunity that could have ended his five-year winless streak.
The Singaporean had a late birdie on the closing 18th to thank for giving him a place in the play-off after a double-bogey on the 17th cost him to slip one back to second place then.
"It was a bad club selection and it cost me dearly," said Mardan who chose to use a six-iron on the par-three 17th.
However with Lahiri sinking his 10-feet putt for birdie at the play-off hole, Mardan could only watch and ponder what might have been his day.
"It was not my day but what I can take from this week's performance is that I've have the ability to compete at the highest level and I'm looking forward to Malaysia next week," said the 43-year-old Singaporean.
Playing on his home course, Jaini finished in the top-five in his last three starts at the Delhi Golf Club but was disappointed that he was not able to add a win to that proud record this week.
"I missed several shorts putts especially in my last four holes. That cost me the tournament," said Jaini.
Panasonic, the worldwide leader of electronic product manufacturers, has committed to the title sponsorship in India as an extension of the brand's involvement with professional golf in Asia as it also hosts the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan, a tournament jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
The top three players of the Panasonic Open (India) will be invited to play in Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, scheduled from September 22 to 25 at Biwako Country Club in Shiga Prefecture.
