Anirban Lahiri wins Macau battle

Report by Anand Datla

October 26, 2014: Anirban Lahiri duelled with Scott Hend in an intense final round battle at the Venetian Macau Open. As fortunes kept swinging one way then the other, Lahiri seemed to be holding his nerve better. Hend made three bogeys in six holes from the ninth and the Indian took advantage, catching up with the Aussie with a birdie at the 14th hole. Another one at the 15th handed Lahiri the outright lead as he moved to 17-under with three left to play. (Latest Golf News)

Hend caught up with Lahiri after making a cool birdie at the 16th hole to leave themselves battling for victory at the final hole. Lahiri only needed a par, after Hend’s aggression left the Aussie nursing his ball to an untimely bogey at the final hole. The victory at the Macau Open will help Anirban inch closer to David Lipsky in the race for the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Lahiri made a fine 66 under immense pressure as he overhauled Hend to win the title by one shot. The Indian finished on 17-under 267 to clinch victory from his Aussie opponent.

Lahiri made four birdies on the front, before adding vitally important birdies on the 14th and 15th holes to ensure his victory. Hend has been brilliant through the week, but four bogeys in the final ten holes meant that he was struggling to put the finishing touches on a good effort till then. Even at the final hole, there was nothing to separate the two men till Hend floundered to a bogey to hand the title to the resilient Indian golfer.

Lahiri won $160,000 for his victory to increase his earnings this season to $504,689. Though Lipsky missed the cut this week after taking 150 shots to get through the first two rounds, he still has a handy lead in the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Lipsky’s earnings so far are $669,170, giving the American a cushion of nearly $165000 over his Indian rival.

Jeev Milkha Singh shot a final round 68 to close his week inside the top 30 for the first time in many weeks. Singh (71-69-73-68) finished with a 3-under total of 281 to finish in T26. Singh shot a brilliant eagle at the par-5 second hole and added two more birdies on the return stretch to complete the round in 3-under.

SSP Chowrasia finished in T32 after making a 70 in the final round. In an action packed round of golf, Chowrasia made three birdies, a bogey and a double between the first and ninth holes for a score of 35. He needed 35 on the other side too, with three more birdies and two bogeys for a one-under score in the final round.