Bombay, India: Viraj Madappa is hoping it’s a case of third time lucky after racing to a runaway victory in the Faldo Series India Championship for Boys.
Underlining his outstanding potential, the 16-year-old compiled a four-round aggregate of 15-under-par 265 at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, the 11th leg of the 2014-15 Faldo Series Asia.
That meant he finished no fewer than 13 strokes ahead of his closest challenger, Shubham Narain, winner of the Under-16 category. Remarkably, the winning margin was the same as Madappa enjoyed last year.
This time, Madappa is keeping his fingers crossed that he’ll be able to claim his spot in the ninth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, an R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills Shenzhen next March.
Twice previously, Madappa has qualified for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final. However, on both occasions he has reluctantly been forced to withdraw due to school exams.
Winner of the West Bengal Junior championship at the start of October, Madappa continued his good run of form by making the cut in the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia a fortnight ago.
Over the 6.121-yard, par-70 Bombay Presidency layout he took control from the outset, an opening five-under-par 65 giving him a two-shot cushion. Karandeep Kochar halved the deficit after 36 holes but a sparkling third-round 64 gave Madappa a six-stroke buffer to take into the final round.
Any faint hopes his rivals may have had of catching him evaporated during a remarkable eight-hole mid-round stretch which Madappa negotiated in six-under thanks to birdies at the fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th and 12th.
Six-time Major champion Faldo, Britain’s most successful golfer, said: “Congratulations to Viraj on a spectacular performance. To win by 13 shots at any level is a tremendous achievement. To have now done it twice in succession is remarkable.
“We look forward to welcoming Viraj to next year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final and to watching him showcase his talent at Mission Hills.”
The Faldo Series India Championship for Girls is scheduled to take place at Bombay Presidency from December 9-11.
Faldo Series India Boys Championship, leading final scores: Boys’ Under-18: 265 – Viraj Madappa (65-70-64-66). 285 – Yuvraj Sandhu (71-72-66-76). 286 – Jairaj Singh Sandhu (73-71-72-70). 293 – Mohan Sardar (72-74-74-73). 300 – Alammgir Grewal (75-74-73-78). Boys’ Under-16: 278 – Shubham Narain (68-73-64-73). 279 – Karandeep Kochar (67-69-69-74). 284 – Jaiveer Singh (73-69-69-73). 287 – Aadil Bedi (69-73-72-73). 290 – Daksh Shokeen (74-72-72-72); Saarthak Chhibber (72-74-71-73).