The Asian Age

Bhullar romps home to eighth Asian Tour title

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

Golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar clinched a three-shot victory at the Macau Open to bag his eighth Asian Tour title on Sunday. As a result, Bhullar etched his name on the Macau Open trophy for the second time having previously won the event in 2012.

Bhullar (64-65-74-68) was unstoppabl­e on the final day of the $500,000 event as he brought in a card of three-under-68 to end up with a winning total of 13under-271.

Among other Indians in action, Ajeetesh Sandhu (66-67-71-70), fresh from his twin triumphs in Taiwan and Japan over the last two weeks, delivered a last round of oneunder-70 to grab a share of the second place at 10under-274.

Sandhu shared the runner-up spot with Angelo Que (69) of the Philippine­s.

Bhullar, overnight leader by one shot, put behind the disappoint­ment of an ordinary third round effort of three-over74 as he bounced back in Round Four with seven birdies at the cost of two bogeys and a double bogey.

Bhullar began the day with a bogey to concede his outright lead and slip into joint lead along with compatriot Sandhu. But he then rallied with six birdies over the next 12 holes to build a healthy five-shot lead to all but run away with the title.

The strapping 29-yearold from Kapurthala, Punjab, has now equalled Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa’s record of most wins (8) by an Indian on the Asian Tour.

It was also Bhullar’s third wire-to-wire victory of his career following the Macau Open 2012 and the Indonesia Open 2013.

Rashid Khan shot a stunning final round of sevenunder-64 — the day’s best — to climb 19 places to tied fifth at six-under-278. His presence in tied fifth made it three Indians in the top-6 this week.

Chiragh Kumar also finished inside the top-20. He was tied 19th at even-par284. Shubhankar Sharma was tied 24th.

It was also Gaganjeet Bhullar’s third wire-towire victory of his career following the Macau Open 2012 and the Indonesia Open 2013

 ??  ?? Gaganjeet Bhullar poses with the trophy after winning the Macau Open on Sunday.
Gaganjeet Bhullar poses with the trophy after winning the Macau Open on Sunday.

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