Gagan captures Southern India Amateur title

BANGALORE: With nearest rival Vikram Rana fumbling in the final round, a level-par card of 72 was enough to fetch Delhi's Gagan Verma the Southern Indian Amateur Golf Tour title at the Eagleton Golf Resort here on Friday.
    
Gagan's chances enhanced when his nearest rival Vikram Rana made a double bogey on the 16th, thus paving way for the Delhi boy's triumph.
    
After his round of 72, Gagan tallied three-under 285 to top the leaderboard while Vikram, with a final round of one-over 73, had to be content with a runner-up finish at 286 after both had begun the day on even terms.
    
"I am so happy and relieved that I won, especially since I thought I was being chased by the golf demons. All my good shots ended up being in trouble from where it was difficult to navigate. I thought I would never win," Gagan said.
    
Youngsters Rashid Khan and Abhinav Lohan carded identical 73 to be tied third at 289 while Rahul Bakshi and Manav Das shared the fifth position at 290.