Every time a flight from Bengaluru touches down in Ahmedabad with Khalin Joshi in it, nostalgia adds to the trip. The family shifted base generations back but the connect with Gujarat is intact. Relatives or business links, the Joshis have ensured they stay interested. From Khalin’s perspective as a pro golfer, it was only appropriate that a strong finish cemented the bond he and his parents so cherish.
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The first golfing trip to the state and Kalhaar Blues & Greens was encouraging. It was 2014 and Khalin was a year into playing pro golf. Lessons learnt from the top-15 at the first edition of the Ahmedabad Masters on the Professional Golf Tour of India, Khalin returned next year to notch up his second pro win.
The going was far from easy as Khalin was playing catch up. “Winning was far from the mind,” he says. Then, there was the wind on the final day. Teeing off in the second leader group, Khalin trailed overnight leader Shubhankar Sharma by a whopping eight shots. Sole fifth, he had a big number to chase. The way to go was an impetus at the start, and that is exactly what happened.
Holing out on the first hole, it was a round of sublime golf studded with that eagle and seven birdies for a two-shot win.
With time, the memories of that week have blurred but what remain is the gigantic trophy, the blustery conditions, and a vindication of his craft. “It (Kalhaar) is a course for good ball strikers, and I consider myself to be one.”
Photo credit: PGTI
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