All India Amateur down to semifinals
CHANDIGARH, India (Jan. 20, 2012) -- There were upsets galore on Friday as many of the leading contenders fell by the wayside on a long day when the pre-quarter and quarter final matches were gone through at the Indian Golf Union’s flagship event, the 111th All India Amateur Golf Championships at the Chandigarh Golf Club.
Two-time defending champion S Chikkarangappa was the biggest casualty as he lost to SK Pappu in the pre-quarter finals in the morning session. The unfancied Pappu beat the India No. 1 Chikka 2&1 and then scored another fine win in quarters beating Sri Lanka Vijita Bhandara by the same margin. Chikka was looking for the first hat-trick of All India titles since 1930.
Also going out on a day of upsets was Khalin Joshi. Joshi lost to fellow Bangalorean Syed Saqib Ahmed in the pre-quarters on the 19th hole.
The experienced Gagan Verma in the morning beat Trishul Chinappa 1_up and then defeated Honey Baisoya of Delhi 2&1. He now meets SK Pappu in the semis.
Angad Cheema also came through to last four beating HS Kang 1-up in quarters.
One of the oldest amateur championships in the world, the All India Amateur Championship started in 1892 and is run by the Indian Golf Union. It has a 36-hole stroke play qualifying competition over the first two days from which the leading 32 players proceed to the match play knockout event.
Quarterfinals: Angad Cheema beat HS Kang 1-up; Syed Saqib Ahmed beat IPS Mann 6&4; Gagan Verma beat Honey Baisoya 2&1; SK Pappu beat Vijita Bhandara 2&1;
Pre-quarter finals: HS Kang beat Raghav Bhandari 5&4; Angad Cheema beat Mohd Nazim 2&1; Syed Saqib Ahmed beat Khalin Joshi 19th hole; IPS Mann beat Karan Taunk 4&3; Honey Baisoya beat Simarjeet Singh 1-up; Gagan Verma beat Trishul Chinappa 1-up; Vijita Bhandara beat Shubhankar Sharma 4&2; SK Pappu beat S Chikkrangappa 2&1