IN A CLASH THAT WENT DOWN TO THE WIRE, defending champions United Services Club edged out hosts Willingdon Sports Club by a mere ½ point to retain their title in the 20th Grover Zampa Vineyards Inter-Club Golf Championships and crown themselves the champion club of Western India at the WSC, here, on Sunday. In the 20 year history of this championship, only BPGC has managed to retain the title, winning back to back in 2006 and 07.
Trailing by 2 ½ and needing an outright win in their last fourballs match against Poona Golf Club to tie the scores and take the contest into a play-off, WSC’s pairing of Pradeep Patel and Kunal Thakore had won 2 points on the 17th hole, but PGC’s Andrew Pinto and Shishir Dhonde held their nerve to win the last hole and denied WSC the crucial ½ point to bring to a fitting end two-days of high class golfing action.
It was hosts WSC who made a strong beginning to the second day, winning 6 points in the singles through Ashish Agarwal, Kushaal Thakersey and Hrishikesh Thakersey to whittle down US Club’s overnight lead of 6 points to just 1 ½. However, a poor showing in the foursomes, which saw them win just ½ point proved WSC’s undoing. Thouugh they hit back strongly in the fourballs to win a whopping 10 ½ points out of a possible 12 ½, they fell short by just half a point in the final analysis.
BPGC finished third with 24 ½ points, while PGC once again ended with the wooden spoon, with 24 points.
13-yerar-old Kaurvika Kumar of BPGC was consistent in her play, winning her second foursomes match along with partner Amit Nigam, while US Club youngster Keshav Mishra made amends for his lackluster display on the opening day in the singles, by partnering Capt. Chauhan to win their fourballs encounters.