Ashok Kumar to face Manav Jaini in title clash

Ashok Kumar to face Manav Jaini in title clash Ashok outshines Chiragh, Jaini edges out Perera in semis: New Delhi, May 20, 2011: The final of the SRF All India Professional Golf Matchplay Championship 2011 will witness two Delhi Golf Club (DGC) professionals, Ashok Kumar and Manav Jaini, slug it out for the title at their home course on Saturday. Semifinals on Friday, Ashok Kumar defeated another DGC professional Chiragh Kumar 3 & 2 while Manav Jaini beat Sri Lankan Mithun Perera on the 20th hole (second playoff hole). Top seed Ashok Kumar had a few hiccups in the early stages of his encounter against fifth seed Chiragh Kumar as the latter went two ahead with wins on the fourth and fifth holes. Ashok, however, came roaring back by bagging the eighth, 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th holes to go three up. Ashok, the 2007 & 2009 SRF All India Matchplay champion, dominated the back nine with a chip-in for birdie on the 10th, a couple of long birdie putts on the 11th and 12th and an eagle on the 14th. Ashok finally sealed it when the two players halved the 16th after making bogeys. Sixth seed Manav Jaini survived a scare from 55th seed Mithun Perera in the second semifinal of the day. After Perera pocketed the first hole, Jaini took the next four to build a healthy lead. The seventh went Perera’s way but Jaini birdied the eighth and made eagle on the 10th to go four ahead. The momentum swung in favour of the Colombo-based Perera after he rallied with wins on the 13th, 15th and 16th. The 17th hole was halved and Perera managed to take the match to a playoff after he won the 18th with a birdie to make it all square. The two players birdied the 19th hole but the 27-year-old Jaini finally wrapped it up on the 20th hole by converting a 15 feet birdie putt even as Perera missed a birdie from 17 feet. Jaini said, “It was a very tough match. I’m delighted to make it to the final after almost giving it away today. I was playing solid golf in the first half of my round. I holed an eagle with my five-iron shot from 185 yards on the 10th to go four up. But I could not close it out as I three-putted for bogey on the 15th and then hit the 18th green in four shots to allow Mithun back into the match. “I had another opportunity to win it on the 19th but I missed my eagle putt from 10 feet. I then produced a fabulous 3-wood shot on the 20th hole and followed that up with a perfect putt for birdie from 15 feet on the same hole.“I’ll play without any inhibitions in the final against Ashok, as I know, being the underdog, I have nothing to lose.” The final match between Ashok Kumar and Manav Jaini will be decided over 36 holes on Saturday. The other match on Saturday will be the playoff for third and fourth place between the losing semifinalists Chiragh Kumar and Mithun Perera. This match will be played over 18