India's winning dreams bunkered

Indian dreams of a momentous Alfred Dunhill Cup victory ran aground yesterday when they lost 2-1 to Zimbabwe as Gaurav Ghei became the latest victim to fall foul of golf's most famous hole.

Going to the Road Hole 17th at the Home of Golf, Ghei trailed Mark McNulty by one in the pivotal encounter between 500-1 outsiders India and fourth-seeded Zimbabwe.

With two-time Indian Open champion Ali Sher shooting an even-par 72 to defeat Tony Johnstone in the top match and Nick Price two ahead of Jeev Singh in the last of the three medal-matchplay contests, attention turned to Ghei.

Splitting the fairway with his drive, Ghei was left with a six-iron to the green as Asian hopes of recording one of the biggest upsets in the 12-year history of golf's richest team championship soared.

However, misjudging the wind, Ghei pulled the shot into the Road Hole bunker, from where Ali had got up-and-down for a crucial par 10 minutes earlier. Ghei was not so fortunate. From close to the lip he splashed out on to the back of the green, his ball rolling down the slope and on to the infamous road.

Opting to use his wedge, Ghei's fourth stroke failed to make the putting surface. With McNulty five feet from the flag in two, Ghei's suffering was not over. His fifth shot from the gravel path barely made it on to the putting surface and although he bravely holed his 15-footer for a double-bogey six the damage had been done.