Macau, Sep 13 (Inditop.com) India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar added to his growing reputation as the rising star in Asian golf, as he zoomed to a second place finish behind the seasoned veteran Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant in the full field US$ 500,000 Macau Open at the Macau Golf and Country Club here Sunday.
As Thaworn continued his rich vein of form to claim his 11th Asian Tour victory with a commanding six-shot triumph, Bhullar shot a superb five-under 66 to move up the ladder and finish second.
Bhullar picked up $54,250 and moved to sixth on Order of Merit.
Of the other Indians, Digvijay Singh (73, three-over 287) finished tied 43rd, down from overnight 36th and C. Muniyappa, 26th after third round, dropped to tied 56th with a final round of 77 for a total of six-over 290.
Bhullar had a birdie- eagle-birdie start on his opening three holes. However, with Thaworn in fine form, the Indian paid a tribute to the Thai for his fantastic victory.
“I had a good trot and that gave me a lot of boost. I was having a look at Thaworn’s score but he was way in front of me and I didn’t think I could catch him. He is our Asian hero and I look up to him for his achievement on the Asian Tour,” said Bhullar.
The second place in Macau was the sixth top-10 finish for the 21-year-old Bhullar. Bhullar won the Indonesia President Invitational in July, and finished tied second in SAIL Open and Brunei Open and he was sole second in Macau. He was also fifth at Black Mountain Masters and tied 10th in Singha Thailand Open.
Thaworn charged home with a closing three-under-par for a four-day total of 15-under-par 269 to finish six shots clear of Bhullar.
Bhullar, who was seventh at the end of the third round opened in style with a birdie-eagle-birdie to go four-under in three holes. A bogey on fifth was a bit of a setback, but he recovered with a birdie on seventh and turned in four-under 31.
He opened the back nine with a bogey on 10th and then had birdies on 13th and 15th. He was unable any more on the last three holes and finished with a 66.
Thaworn had an anxious two-hour gap when he finished his third round early this morning but that did not disrupt his concentration as he resumed his title charge by posting five birdies against two bogeys en route to his emphatic win. Thaworn won $79,250 for his victory.
Asian Tour rookie Matthew Griffin of Australia surged up the leaderboard with an eagle on the second hole to take a share of third place alongside South African Keith Horne on 278.
Thaworn’s victory left him one title short of equaling compatriot’s Thongchai Jaidee’s record of 12 career wins on the Asian Tour but the 42-year-old is confident of surpassing his fellow countryman’s record.
rounak