Gangjee lands 1st Asian Tour win in 14 yrs

The Indian surged to the top with five birdies and two bogeys while Kim slipped to jointsecond

Tokyo, April 22: Veteran Rahil Gangjee held his nerve to win the Panasonic Open in Japan on Sunday by a single stroke, his first Asian Tour victory in 14 years.

The 39- year- old claimed the winner’s blue jacket at the 150- million- yen tournament by sinking a birdie at the last hole at the Ibaraki Country Club near Osaka.

His final round 68 gave him a four- day total of 14under- par 270.

Gangjee began the final day tied for second and one shot behind South Korea’s Kim Hyung- sung.

But the Indian surged to the top with five birdies and two bogeys, while Kim slipped to joint- second after shooting three birdies and two bogeys.

“It’s been 14 years. I was shaking for the last putt,” an elated Gangjee told fans shortly after his victory.

“I feel great. There are a lot of people to thank, obviously. my mind place.”

Gangjee birdied the par- 5 second before taking bogeys at the par- 3 fifth and the par- 4 seventh. He then birdied the 12th, 13th and 14th holes before finishing the final hole again with a birdie.

Kim ended the tournament tied for second with his compatriot Hwang Jung- gon, who shot six birdies and one bogey on Sunday to lift himself up from tied- fourth after three days. Japanese star Shingo Katayama returned with a 72 on Sunday for a four- day total of 276 and finished tied for 14th. But right now is all over the