Kolkata, Oct 31 (NationPress) Aman Raj faced yet another challenge before securing his second consecutive victory at the prestigious IGPL Invitational Kolkata, hosted at the historic Par-70 Tollygunge Golf Club. With a score of 68, Aman finished the tournament at 14-under after three days, while Veer Ganapathy, who was 4-under through 17 but ended with a double bogey, finished with a 2-under 66 for an 11-under total.

Despite the three-shot margin, both competitors were tied going into the last hole. Aman made a birdie on the final hole, while Veer encountered trouble, hitting a tree with his second shot leading to a double bogey.

This marks the second consecutive week where the seasoned Aman Raj has prevailed against a young rival. Last week, it was the 16-year-old Kartik Singh in Jaipur.

With these two wins, Aman becomes the second player to achieve multiple victories, mirroring Gaganjeet Bhullar with back-to-back wins. This success has propelled Aman to the top of the IGPL Order of Merit, and he is the first player in IGPL history to surpass Rs 50 lakh in earnings within just five events.

Aryan Roopa Anand, a two-time All India Amateur champion, achieved his best result on the IGPL Tour with a score of 4-under 66, securing third place at 9-under. His previous rounds were 68-66.

Also making a mark was Samarth Dwivedi (67), who finished fourth at 7-under with consistent rounds of 67-69-67. Syed Saqib Ahmed (66-69-69) and veteran Ranjit Singh (69-67-68) tied for fifth place, both finishing at 6-under 204.

The top-performing female golfer was Ridhima Dilawari, who ended the week at even par (69-70-71), tying for 20th alongside noted male golfers Chiragh Kumar (67-71-72) and Udayan Mane (66-74-70).

Top amateurs included Rahul Ravi (70-68-73) and Aryav Shah (67-71-73), both finishing at 1-over and tied for 25th.

When asked about his remarkable start to the season with back-to-back wins, Aman chuckled and remarked, “At the start of this year, I believed it could be a good year, but my game wasn't reflecting that. However, I kept assuring myself it was just a matter of time.”

“Once the IGPL kicked off, I felt a surge of confidence. I had taken significant steps, and I found myself in winning positions, even if I didn’t win every time. I focused on maintaining my composure.”

“After the initial weeks, I still felt pressure, as my scores weren't meeting my expectations. Nonetheless, I practiced patience, and I never anticipated scoring 9-under like this,” shared Aman.

Aman achieved two 9-under rounds in Jaipur and one in Kolkata.

“Now, I have my sights set on the USD 500,000 Asian Tour event in Kensville, which is co-sanctioned with IGPL. This event will pave the way for me, as the top four from the IGPL rankings will qualify for the International Series event in India and a spot at the Open (the final Major of the year). There’s so much to anticipate,” added Aman.

Starting the day at 12-under from the tenth tee, Aman made birdies at the 13th and the 15th. Veer, playing alongside him, had a birdie on the start but faltered at the 11th. He managed to regain two birdies on the 13th and 15th, narrowing the gap to three.

On the back nine, Aman bogeyed the fourth hole, and Veer made a birdie, closing the gap to just one. Both players parred the eighth, setting the stage for a thrilling finish as they approached the ninth tee.

Aman found the fairway, while Veer struggled left, hitting a branch with his second shot, resulting in a double bogey.

Aman reached the green in two strokes and faced a birdie putt. While Veer faltered, Aman birdied the final hole, winning by three shots, although Veer fought valiantly. He exited the green with a smile, embraced by his father, Rahul Ganapathy.

The three-shot margin belied the closeness of the competition.

Aman Raj’s seasoned experience and calm demeanor shone through once again, just as it did a week prior. “In Jaipur, Kartik played remarkably until the end, and here in Tolly, it was Veer. I’m thrilled to have won both times, but I equally appreciate seeing these young talents excel in their performances,” said a gracious Aman, inviting Veer for a photo with the beautiful IGPL Kolkata Trophy.