Gurgaon: Syed Saqib Ahmed upstaged senior teammate S Chikkarangappa, the overnight leader and Khalin Joshi to grab the IGU-Sanctioned Northern India Amateur Championships on Friday.
Saqib starting two shots behind leader Chikka scored one-under 71 and finished one shot ahead of Khalin and two ahead of Delhi’s Honey Baisoya, whose spirited challenge fell just short.
The top six places had four players from Bangalore and other two were Baisoya and Arshad Ali.
Saqib topped the event, while Khalin was second and Baisoya and Chikka were tied third. Arshad Ali and Trishul Chinappa the leader after second round were tied for fifth.
Saqib totaled even par 288 and was one shot clear of Khalin and two ahead of Baisoya, who was tied for third Chikka at 290.
Saqib scored 60 points for the win while Khalin picked up 50 points.
Saqib had two birdies against no bogeys on the front nine while his main rivals Chika and Khalin shit 37 each, while Baisoya with a birdie and an eagle on ninth for a 33 seemed to challenge Saqib.
On the back nine, Khalin was one-under with two birdies and one bogey and Saqib with one birdie and then a double bogey on par-4 15th had a stumble. But Saqib held on for a one-shot lead over Khalin.
Chikka struggled with a double bogey on first and then four others bogeys on the back nine including three in a row from 12th to 14th. He also had three birdies, but they were not enough as he carded 75.
Chinappa with three doubles bogeys on the front nine dropped out of the race early and never recovered before finally finishing with a 76 and in tied fifth place.
Ashbeer Saini found his best form on the final day and ended with a 68, the day’s best card, and he was eighth at 296 and he was one behind Pratap Atwal (73) and one place ahead of All India Amateur Matchplay finalist, Gagan Verma (71).
