Vijitha Bandara wins 8th NCR Cup golf

New Delhi: Vijitha Bandara of Sri Lanka shot four-over 76 for a total of 293 to win the Gannon Dunkerley eighth NCR Cup golf tournament at the Delhi Golf Club here today.

Bandara, thus, became the second Sri Lankan to win the title after N Thangaraja, who won the trophy last year. India`s Prince Kajotia, who has joined Indian Navy recently, recorded a career best finish after shooting three-over 295 to finish runner-up. India born Thai golfer, Samarth Dwivedi was third with a score of 300, while coming from behind another Indian Lakhan Singh finished tied fourth along with Amit Kumar at 303. Bandara started the day with a birdie on the first and was one-over after front nine. After taking a lot of pressure on himself, the 24-year-old Bandara dropped two shots and made a double bogey on 10th. Number one on Sri Lanka amateur circuit, Bandara got confused in choosing the clubs on 11th hole and he used 3-wood for the tee shot where in he normally uses his 52 wedge. His best shot of the tournament came on the finishing hole where he rescued the ball from a difficult condition as he landed his tee shot in right bushes but managed a par with advice from his caddy. "I am so excited to show the trophy to the defending champion N Thangaraja in my country. The pressure, which was built on me throughout the day, helped me in choosing the right clubs at the right place. Though, I am not very happy to tell my today`s scores but I can take this kind of victory any day," a delighted Bandara said. Another highlight of the day was a hole-in-one on seventh hole by Devendra Singh, who finished 22nd. Lakhan Singh took the longest drive challenge prize on sixth hole, which was also a hat-rick in NCR Cup by him. Sunny Nagar won the straightest drive on 10th hole. PTI