2006 flashback: Gaurav Ghei is Taiwan Master

Professional golf can be a cruel game, as felt by India's S.S.P Chowrasia.

After taking a three-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, the Indian rookie was disqualified after it was realised that he had failed to sign his scorecard, one of the greatest sins in golf.

His compatriot Gaurav Ghei, an Asian Tour veteran, was amongst the first to console a distraught Chowrasia, saying the young Indian was destined to secure a winning breakthrough following an impressive rookie season.

It was uncanny however that two days later, Ghei took advantage of his compatriot's unfortunate exit and was celebrating a second career victory, 11 years after his maiden success.

While Chowrasia was in the depths of despair, it was jubilation for Ghei. After his last triumph at the 1995 Gadgil Western Masters on home soil, he ended his title drought with rounds of 71, 72, 69 and 66 for a 10-under-par 278 total.

Ghei has had his share of hardship with injuries in 2001 and 2002 forcing a lean patch. But when opportunity knocked at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club, he forced the door to victory to open once more.

He was bogey free at the weekend rounds, closing with a stunning 66 to pip compatriot Rahil Gangjee by one stroke and claimed US$100,000. “It’s been 11 years since I won and the way I played in the last two days without dropping a shot, it is just fantastic. This is all going to take a while to sink in,” said Ghei.

“I had a great start and was five under on the front and I told myself to play well and keep it on the fairway. It’s been a crazy week though. My thoughts go out to S.S.P but at the same time I’m very happy to have won after a long time."

Korea’s Ted Oh enjoyed one of his best finishes on Tour for a while, finishing third and four strokes behind the champion. Korean Park Jun-won, another of Asia's rising stars, was tied fourth after closing with a 69 and finished alongside Australia’s Adam Groom and Yeh Wei-Tze, who was the highest ranked local finisher in eighth spot.

Ghei, who started the final round four off the pace, conquered the front nine with birdies at the first, second, fourth, sixth and seventh holes. After a sixth birdie of the day at the 12th hole, the 38-year-old stood firm and parred home.

Chowrasia said the experience was a bitter lesson. “I did not sleep at all that weekend because of what happened. I’ve been awake the entire time," said the 28-year-old.

Leading final round scores
278 - Gaurav Ghei (IND) 71-72-69-66
279 - Rahil Gangjee (IND) 66-70-72-71
282 - Ted Oh (KOR) 70-68-72-72
284 - Adam Groom (AUS) 73-69-72-70, Park Jun-won (KOR) 70-72-73-69, Jason Knutzon (USA) 67-70-76-71, Bryan Saltus (USA) 69-69-73-73
285 - Yeh Wei-tze (TPE) 71-70-71-73
286 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 72-71-67-76
287 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 74-72-69-72
288 - Eddie Lee (NZL) 72-73-74-69, Simon Hurd (ENG) 73-73-70-72, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 72-73-72-71, Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 71-72-71-74, Lin Wen-hong (TPE) 72-73-64-79
289 - Gerry Norquist (USA) 74-70-74-71, Shiv Kapur (IND) 73-71-71-74, Amandeep Johl (IND) 72-71-72-74, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 74-68-73-74, Chung Chun-hsing (TPE) 68-71-73-77

September 17, 2007

Bookmark page with:

Return to Top of Page