Hong Kong: Leading Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri failed to muster a final day challenge due to fatigue and could only post an one-over 71 to finish tied seventh, while compatriots Gaganjeet Bhullar and Rahill Gangjee grabbed the tied 13th and joint 18th place respectively in the $2 million UBS Hong Kong Open here on Sunday.
Coming into the fourth round four strokes off the pace, Asian Tour leader Lahiri traded three bogeys (first, 16th and 18th) two birdies (third and sixth) for a 71 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
It pushed his total to 10-under 270 (67-67-65-71) — seven shots behind winner Justin Rose of England (68), who registered a single stroke victory over Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard.
“I just felt like I ran out of gas today and didn’t have much energy left in the tank. I’m obviously disappointed with how I finished, because there were a lot of world ranking points this week, and this gave a few away,” the 28-year-old Bengalurean, who bagged $48,700 for his performance, said in an Asian Tour release.
Lahiri shared the spot with Asian Tour honorary member Y.E. Yang, 2008 Hong Kong Open winner Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei and England’s Matt Ford.
South Korea’s Soomin Lee signed off with his week’s best score of 64 to share third place with American Patrick Reed, Australia’s Jason Scrivener and England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Among other Indians in the fray, Bhullar got an even-par 70 that gave him a share of the 13th spot with a total of 272. One shot behind him was Gangjee, who finished tied 18th following a 69.
Veteran golfer Jeev Milkha Singh struggled throughout the day for a four-over 74 and dropped 20 places to be tied 24th on 274.
S.S.P. Chawrasia (74) and former Asian Tour champion Jyoti Randhawa (73) shared the 59th place on one-over 281.
