Randhawa, Chowrasia to lead Indian challenge at SAIL Open golf

March 19th, 2009 GURGAON - Big-hitting Chapchai Nirat of Thailand made the best of ideal golfing conditions to bring home a course record in the first round of the SAIL Open as the Asian Tour returned to the Classic Golf Resort after eight years. The 25-year-old chubby golfer shot five birdies on either side of the turn to score a flawless 10-under 62 that saw him open up a three-shot lead over four players crowding the second place.

March 18th, 2009 GURGAON - Buoyed by the title in Thailand earlier this month, Jyoti Randhawa will be hoping to carry on the form which has made him one of the most feared golfers on home turf in India, when he tees off at the second SAIL Open at the Classic Golf Resort Wednesday. The Asian Tour resumes this week from March 18-21 for SAIL Open after a one-week break.

March 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The following is a factfile on Jyoti Randhawa, who won the Singha Thailand Open in Phuket Sunday: Born: May 4, 1972 Married: to Tina Children: 1 (son Zorawar) Turned pro: In 1994 International Titles 1998: Hero Honda Masters 1999: Hero Honda Masters, India 2000: Wills Indian Open; Singapore Open 2003: Suntory Open, (Japan Golf Tour) 2004: Volvo Masters of Asia, Malaysia; 2006: Hero Honda Indian Open 2007: Hero Honda Indian Open 2008: Singha Thailand Open 2002: Order of Merit Asian Tour 2005: Arjuna Award

March 9th, 2009 PHUKET - Jyoti Randhawa grabbed sole lead by the fifth hole on the final day and never relinquished it en route to carding a five-under 65 and winning the Singha Thailand Open by a comfortable two-shot margin over co-leader Rhys Davies of Wales here Sunday. Randhawa totalled 17-under 263 while Davies shot a 67 and ended at 15-under 265.

March 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Jyoti Randhawa, who won the Singha Thailand Open golf tournament Sunday, may look shy and reserved, but when he comes to outdoor sports, there are few with as many diverse interests as him. He may well be one of the original daredevils on the golf circuit.

March 8th, 2009 PHUKET - Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa won the $500,000 Singha Thailand Open title at the par-70 Laguna Phuket Golf Club here Sunday. It was Randhawa's eighth title on the Asian Tour.

March 8th, 2009 PHUKET - Jyoti Randhawa charged into the joint lead with fellow Indian golfer S.S.P. Chowrasia and Welshman Rhys Davies as the Singha Thailand Open was heading for a nailbiting finish at the end of third round here Saturday.

March 7th, 2009 PHUKET - Indian golfer Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia fired a blemish-free eight-under 62 to assume the mid-way lead at the $500,000 Singha Thailand Open at the Laguna Phuket Golf Club here Fiday. Chowrasia, who had a two-day tally of 12-under 128, was followed by Welshman Rhys Davies, who had a 64 and was placed one stroke behind the leader at 11-under 129.

March 5th, 2009 PHUKET - No less than 13 Indian golfers and one more with an Indian connection will tee off at the Singha Thailand Open starting here Thursday. It may well be one of India's largest ever contingents in an Asian Tour event outside Indian sub-continent.

March 4th, 2009 PHUKET - Top Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa, fresh from his seventh place finish last week, is all set to improve upon that at the Singha Thailand Open starting here Thursday. Randhawa, who is planning to train his sights on the European Tour later in the season has been getting into good form, even though his putting has let him down.

March 2nd, 2009 BALI - Top Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa coped with a non-co-operative putter, but still managed to post his second top-10 finish of the season as he carded a two-under 70 in the final round to finish tied seventh place at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open here Sunday. Randhawa finished with a four-day total of eight-under 280 while Thai star Thongchai Jaidee lifted a record 11th title on the Asian Tour when he nailed a strong three-under-par 69 for a winning total of 12-under-par 276 at the New Kuta Golf Resort.

February 27th, 2009 BALI - Indian golfers Digvijay Singh and S.S.P. Chowrasia got off to solid starts with three-under 69 and two-under 70 in the opening round at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open here Thursday.

February 11th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Indian golfers had mixed fortunes on the opening day as S.S.P. Chowrasia (69) alone was in the top-20 as South Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul fired a stunning 10-under-par 62 to snatch the first round lead at the Maybank Malaysian Open here Thursday.

January 16th, 2009 ABU DHABI - A sizzling five-under 67 highlighted by five birdies on the back nine of the course helped star Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa rise to tied 20th midway through the third round of the Abu Dhabi Open here Saturday. Randhawa, who had earlier rounds of 71 and 70 and was placed 40th has improved 20 places.

January 14th, 2009 ABU DHABI - It was a disappointing start for the Indian quartet on a hailstorm-hit opening day at the $2.5 million Abu Dhabi Open, as Shiv Kapur alone managed a par-round here Thursday. Kapur shot 72, despite a triple bogey on the second nine and a bogey on his closing hole, the ninth, and was lying tied 62nd.