Lahiri wins Tour School as amateurs signal arrival on pro ranks

Gurgaon, July 28 (UNI) Asian Games hero Anirban Lahiri signaled his arrival onto the big professional stage with a whopping six-shot win in the Final Stage of the PGTI Tour's Qualifying School at the Golden Greens Golf and Country Club here.

The 20-year-old Lahiri, who led from the start, finished with an even-par round of 72 despite bogeys on his last three holes.

Lahiri, who has chosen to retain his amateur status till October, when he forms part of the Indian at the prestigious Nomura Cup for amateurs, finished with a four-day total of seven-under 281 and scored par or under on all four days showing great consistency.

The final group of the Qualifying School may well be a look into the future as Lahiri played alongside two other talented youngsters, Raj Randhawa and Ranjit Singh, who take their first steps from amateur to professional ranks. Raj Randhawa (69) finished second and also came under-par for four rounds as he finished at one-under 287.

Ranjit finished fourth, one shot behind third placed experienced Feroze Ali (72).

Bangladesh's Md Siddiquir Rahman (73), who won the All India amateur title last year, and turned professional at the Colour Plus Open, the last event on 2006-07 season, finished fifth while his fellow golfer from Dhaka, Matloob Rana (77) was tied seventh.

Two other qualifiers who turn professional with this event are Balvinder Singh Mattu (77) and Arshpreet Thind (80) who were both tied 20th at 19-over 307.

UNI