Macau, 18-10-2015
ANIRBAN LAHIRI AND CHIRAGH KUMAR ARE JOINT RUNNERS-UP AT VENETIAN MACAU OPEN
CHIRAGH SECURES ASIAN TOUR CARD FOR 2016
The Indian duo of Anirban Lahiri and Chiragh Kumar were joint runners-up at the Venetian Macau Open as they finished three shots behind champion Scott Hend of Australia. Lahiri, the 2014 champion, fired a final round five-under-66, while Chiragh went one better in round four with a six-under-65. The two Indians totalled 17-under-267 for the week at the US$1 million Asian Tour event.
Big-hitting Hend cruised to a three-stroke triumph at the Macau Golf and Country Club to bag the title for the second time in three years.
Lahiri, who pipped Hend last year in Macau, tried to apply pressure on Hend with three birdies in the first six holes but the Aussie was too good on the day with back-to-back birdies on eight and nine to preserve his overnight lead. The Indian world number 39 then made costly bogeys on 12 and 16 to fall out of the title chase.
“I can’t be disappointed. I played well today barring a couple of really silly mistakes. All credit to Hendy. He played phenomenal golf. I was telling him that anytime you shoot a bogey free five under when you’re leading by three, you’re not going to get caught very often. He’s earned this win,” said Lahiri, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader.
“I expect Hendy to make those putts (on 10). I didn’t make a putt on 11 and then I dropped a silly shot on 12 and on 16, I shot myself in the head when I picked the wrong sprinkler head and picked myself a wrong yardage.”
Chiragh made a vital last hole birdie to tie for second place, with the runner-up cheque of US$86,500 securing his card for next year. It was his best finish on the Asian Tour since his second place at the Indian Open in 2011.
“Honestly, on this course and with Scott’s length, it would have been tough to catch him. I did get off to a good start (with a birdie and eagle) and had I made one or two more putts early on, I would have put some pressure. He played really good,” said Kumar.
Rashid Khan was the third Indian in the top-10 as he claimed tied eighth with a 10-under-274 total after a final round of 71.
Gaganjeet Bhullar and SSP Chawrasia were tied 17th at six-under-278.
Jyoti Randhawa and Abhijit Singh Chadha were joint 45th at one-under-283. Rahil Gangjee was tied 55th at one-over-285.
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