Brar wins title after play-off
It is amazing how some players, with their backs to the wall, tend to play better than usual. Chandigarh’s Irina Brar showed tremendous grit to overcome back problems and a nervous play-off to win the 55th Ladies Western India Golf Championship, sponsored by WIGA, at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club course on Friday.
‘‘My back has been aching for some time and my doctor had advised rest. But I had to play so I skipped practice sessions to get rest,’’ revealed the 21-year-old later. Brar also kept her nerves during the play-off over citymate Parneeta Grewal, prevailing with a birdie on the par-5 19th hole, to lift the title.
Grewal, trailing Brar by four strokes overnight, played brilliant golf on the last day, returning a par round of 70 to tie with Brar (74) on 293, which prompted the play-off. However, Brar, the country’s top-ranked player held her nerves and sunk a birdie to emerge champion.
Brar, who had lost to Grewal by six strokes last week at Kolkata, said after her victory that she was tense during the play-off. This was also because she had lost in a play-off to Grewal four years ago. However, she managed to reverse the tables on her close rival this time around.
Grewal reserved her best for the last, playing the first nine holes in two-under 33, with birdies on the 3rd and 5th holes. Her back nine was marred a bit by bogies on the 10th and 15th holes, but her performance was the best among all the golfers over four days.