Chakola, Lahiri power India A to International team title

Coimbatore, Feb 13 (UNI) Local lad Joseph Chakola and Bangalore's Anirban Lahiri representing India A played spectacular golf to clinch the International team event of the 106th Royal Challenge All India Amateur Championship here today.

Lahiri returned a level-par second round of 72 while Chakola shot a 74 to enable India A finish the two-day event with a total of 292, six shots ahead of India B team of Jasjeet Singh (74) and Shaurya Singh (74), who put up a gallant fightback to finish second at 298.

Bangladesh finished third in the event one shot behind India B thanks to a vastly improved performance by Mohammad Shahid who returned a card of two-over 74 while team-mate Mohammad Siddikur shot a 76.

The day's best individual performance, however, came from South African Ruan Botha, who came home in 71, but his partner Branden Grace faltered with a round of 82 as South Africa finished tied fourth with Sri Lankan team of Mithun Perera (77) and K Prabagaran (76) at 302.

Pakistan team of Tariq Mehmood and Adil Jahangir finished last in the event with a tally of 309. Tariq returned a card of five-over 77 today while team-mate Adil Jahangirt shot an 80.

Scores: 292 India A (Anirban Lahiri: 72+72, Joseph Chakola: 74+74); 298 India B (Shaurya Singh: 74+74, Jasjeet Singh: 76+74); 299 Bangladesh (Mohammad Siddikur: 73+76, Mohammad Shahid:76+74); 302 South Africa (Branden Grace: 74+82, Ruan Botha: 75+71), Sri Lanka (K Prabagaran:73+76, Mithun Perera:76+77); 309 Pakistan (Adil Jahangir:75+80, Tariq Mehmood 77+77).

UNI