Vihaan Jain Triumphs at IGU Southern India Junior Boys Golf Championship

Vihaan Jain Secures Championship Title

On Friday, Vihaan Jain from Haryana showcased remarkable skill by making crucial putts during the final stretch, ultimately defeating Nilofer Sivamoorthy from Tamil Nadu to claim the title at the IGU Southern India Junior Boys Golf Championship held at the Coimbatore Golf Club.

The 16-year-old golfer faced a challenging start but excelled under pressure on the back nine, finishing with a five-over 77, which earned him a two-shot victory over Sivamoorthy, who scored 75. This win marks Vihaan's second consecutive title in Category 'A' (ages 15-17), concluding the tournament with a total score of 12-over 300. He had also secured a victory the previous week in Vizag.

Exciting Final Round

Entering the final day with a four-stroke lead, Vihaan encountered difficulties on the front nine, recording four bogeys, which allowed Sivamoorthy to close the gap. The Tamil Nadu player managed to equalize with Vihaan on the 10th hole.

Vihaan faced an unfortunate incident on the 10th hole when his wedge shot from 107 yards hit a sprinkler head and went out of bounds. Despite this setback, he managed to escape with a double-bogey six after his fourth shot landed in a bunker.

After sinking a 20-foot putt to regain the lead, Sivamoorthy responded by birdieing the 14th hole to level the score again. However, Vihaan's exceptional putting skills shone through as he made several impressive par saves, including a 22-foot putt on the 14th, a 15-footer on the 15th, a 10-foot putt on the 16th, and a 12-footer on the 17th.

Final Moments and Victory

With the pressure mounting on Sivamoorthy due to Vihaan's outstanding performance, Sivamoorthy bogeyed both the 16th and 17th holes, giving Vihaan a two-stroke advantage as they approached the final hole. Vihaan secured his championship title with a steady par on the 18th hole.

Chaitanya Pandey Wins Category 'B'

In a similar fashion, Chaitanya Pandey from Delhi also claimed his second consecutive title in Category 'B' (ages 13-14). He finished with a closing score of 77, winning by three strokes over Jaibir Singh Kang, who scored 74. Pandey's total score over the four days was 20-over 308.

Final Scores Overview

Final scores after 72 holes are as follows: