Baisoya wins Goodricke East India Golf Championship

Baisoya wins Goodricke East India, Chikka is beaten

25^th December, Kolkata: Delhi’s Honey Baisoya showed his swing in Rory Mclroy’s style as he became the youngest winner of the 22^nd edition of  Goodricke East India Amateur Golf Championship at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Kolkata. The 15-year-old Baisoya, sent the opponent, The No.1 Amateur, S. Chikkarangappa home, wrapping up the match on the 34^th green to win 3 and 2. Both of them had to play 2 rounds of 36 holes as it was the final day of the tournament.

Baisoya secured a winning start after making birdies on 1^st, 4^th, 5^th, 9^th, 12^th and 15^th in the first round of 18 holes where both Baisoya and Chikka halved 11 holes. Though, Chikka won 3 matches on 7^th, 11^th and 14th, Baisoya was 2-up after the first round.

In the beginning of second round, Baisoya again took the early lead after making a birdie on the 1^st to go 3-up where Chikka’s 2^nd shot went 10 yards off the green and he made a par. Chikka, who was suffering with the pain in his foot, hit his tee shot on the left green on 2^nd and made a safe par while Baisoya double putted  hole for a bogey to go one-down for 2-up. Both of them hit the center fairway on the 3^rd and then Chikka’s second shot reached the edge of the green for another safe par while Baisoya made a 1-footer bogey to remain 1-up. After halving 4^th, Chikka hit his tee shot next to the bunker on 5^th and Honey made the par to go 2-up after hitting few ups and downs. Both of them halved 6^th and then Baisoya won 7^th and 8^th after making both pars to go 4-up. An aggressive Chikka kept giving a tough competition after halving 9^th, 10^th 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and also by making a long awaited birdie on the 15^th  where Baisoya’s putt lipped out to go one-down again to maintain 3-up. By the time they reached 16^th, a tired Chikka hit the center fairway but his bad luck couldn’t get him a birdie while Baisoya got the advantage of a birdie on the 16^th to seal the victory.

A delighted Baisoya said, “I was very nervous throughout the round but now, I feel like I am on the cloud 9. I can’t show so much excitement as me and my dad wanted to be atleast 10-up in the first round but could only come up with 3 and 2. There is no doubt that I can’t express my feelings of winning my first amateur title from the no. 1 amateur of the country.”

A disappointed Chikka said, “I was struggling with my putting and the pain in my left foot but I played my fair game. Also, I am happy for the young Baisoya who showed me the real golf at this age which nobody else could show on the amateur circuit.”