It took Feroz Ali more than a year to get back to winning ways as he annexed the Cotton City Open 2003 title, the second stop of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour 2003-04 season.
Despite ending with bogeys on the last two finishing holes on the final day, the Kolkata pro won by four strokes to take home the winner's booty of Rs 1,37,700 at the Coimbatore Golf Club on Saturday.
Feroz's four-day total was one-under 287.
S Madaiah not only carded the day's best score of three-under par 69 but finished tied-second to former Indian Open winner Vijay Kumar with a total of 291. Both the players earned Rs 74,375 each.
Rajesh Chaudhary, who plays with a handicapped leg, was given a cash prize of Rs 2,600 by the Coimbatore Golf Club members for his endurance.
Delhi pro Pappan finished fourth while Uttam Singh Mundy and Amritinder Singh were tied for the fifth spot. Digvijay Singh finished seventh while the `Champion golfer of the year Mukesh Kumar, who had showed signs of a comeback with a four-under score in the third round, shot a 80 to end up in the eighth position.
A determined Feroz, armed with a four-stroke lead, had only one aim -- to finish par as he later admitted. And he did take pains to be on the road to his goal. After a couple of pars on the opening holes, the 34-year-old pro strayed into the tree and chipped over the green. However, he made par from there as he pitched four feet from the cup.
The former Indian Open champion hit a brilliant drive on the par-5 fifth and with a 7-iron shot, he was on the green. However, he three-putted for a par.
Similarly on the par-4 eighth, his second shot went over the green into the bushes from where he was forced to settle for a bogey. He quickly made amends with a birdie on the par-5 ninth.
Feroz began his return journey with a bogey before making a commendable up and down from the bunker on the 12th for a par. Feroz, with a calculated second shot landed about 15 feet from the pin and was in for an eagle putt. However he left it short by a couple of inches and made a birdie.
"More than me, it is my wife who is happy. I played good golf even last year but I was unlucky. However I am determined to win as many titles as possible," said the Air Sahara-sponsored Feroz.
Meanwhile, oblivious of the lead group Madaiah played some hot golf in testing windy conditions on the back nine. After a disastrous drive that landed in the woods, the Bangalore lad came out but was way short of green.
A duffed-chip added to his miseries and was lucky to get away with a bogey. The 22-year-old pro from KGA sank a 30-footer for a birdie on the sixth and followed up with another one on the par-5 ninth. A 10-feet birdie on the 11th put Madaiah in the third position. Hitting his second shot from the rough, Madaiah was in line for an eagle on the 13th. His firm putt stopped at the lip. Madaiah continued in the same vein as he birdied the 14th from 15 feet. The only other bogey was on the 12th where his tee shot landed in the water hazard.
"I am very happy. This is my best finish. I would like to finish in the top ten this year," said a confident Madaiah.
Vijay Kumar who started the day four stokes behind the leader, added three more bogeys on the front nine before making his sole birdie on the 13th while bogeying the 17th too.
"Under these conditions, a four-stroke lead is too high to catch up.However, I did give my best," said the Cosmo Films sponsored Vijay.
Vignesh Rangarao finished as winner in the amateur section with a total of 309 while R Gopinath finished second.
Top scores (after 72 holes): 287_Feroz Ali (70,74,69,74); 291_Vijay Kumar (73,72,72,74), S Madaiah (73,73,76,69); 293_Pappan (72,79,69,73); 296_Uttam Singh Mundy (81,71,72,72), Amritinder Singh (69,80,75,72); 298_Digvijay Singh (73,71,77,77); 300_Mukesh Kumar (77,75,68,80); 301_Shiv Prakash (72,77,72,80); Sheeraz Kalra (74,71,77,79), SSP Chowrasia (76,81,71,73), Rafiq Ali (78,70,78,75). Amateurs: 309_Vignesh Rangarao (75,77,72,85); 330_R Gopinath (78,82,87,83).
