La Quinta (California), Jan 25 (IANS) Leading Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri carded one-under 71 and dropped nine positions to finish tied 28th in the fourth and final round of the $5,800,000 CareerBuilder Challenge at the PGA West’s TPC Stadium Course here.
World No.41 Lahiri, who was tied 19th after scores of 64, 68 and 64 in the first three rounds, on Saturday took his four-day total to 14-under 274 in the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour tournament in partnership with the Clinton Foundation.
The 28-year-old overcame two bogeys on the third and fifth holes with two consecutive birdies on eighth and ninth. In the back-nine, he moved to one-under with a birdie on the 11th.
However, the Bengaluru golfer was again back to even-par with a bogey on the 15th before he closed the round with a birdie on the 18th that gave him a 71 for the day.
The Asian Tour Order of Merit 2014 champion was 11 strokes behind regulation play co-leaders Jason Dufner of the United States and Sweden’s David Lingmerth. In the second play-off hole, Dufner made a par effort to win the title.
Dufner holed an 11-foot par putt at the first playoff hole, the Stadium Course’s 18th, to stay alive after Lingmerth had already made a regulation par.
They returned to the 18th for their second playoff hole. Lingmerth drove into the rough, then hit his approach shot into the water left of the flag, making way for Dufner’s victory.
During the regulation play, Lingmerth, who was five strokes behind World No.120 Dufner till the third round, scored 65 to take his total to 25-under 263 — same as the American.
The 38-year-old Dufner managed 70 in the final round as he battled to save his lead. Overnight second placed Jamie Lovemark scored 73 after making three consecutive 65s and dropped to tied sixth and five strokes off the pace. He shared the spot with Luke List (66) and Adam Hadwin (72).
Andrew Loupe, Kevin Na and Phil Mickelson scored 68 each to share the third spot on 21-under 267 total.