October 18, 2015: Anirban Lahiri with 66 and Chiragh Kumar with an ambitious 65 presented a strong final day challenge at the Macao Open. In the end though Scott Hend did just as well, shooting a brilliant 66 to claim a three shot victory at the Macau Golf and Country Club. The Australian finished at 20-under 264 while the Indians ended their week at 17-under 267.
Chiragh shot a birdie to begin his final round, before making an eagle at the par-5 second hole to declare his intent to make a final day assault for honours.
He made four more birdies along the way, with the lone blemish of the round coming in the form of a bogey at the 16th hole.
The Aussie champion was unstoppable though, ending his tournament just as he had begun it on Thursday.
Hend made five birdies in a blemishless effort on Sunday, signing on a 66, just as he did in the first round on Thursday. “I knew Anirban wasn’t going to go away. He’s a great player and I just went out there with the aim to shoot a good score as I knew they had to catch me,” said Hend. “I can’t really remember much about 2013 (his win). I remember more about last year where I didn’t play solid down the stretch and Anirban got me. So this year, it is a different feeling.”
He marched through the first nine holes in 32 shots with three birdies, including two at the first and second holes. Anirban added four more birdies on the return stretch, but he was set back by a pair of bogeys at the 12th and 16th to settle for second with Chiragh.
“I can’t be disappointed. I played well today barring a couple of really silly mistakes. All credit to Hendy. He played phenomenal golf. I was telling him that anytime you shoot a bogey free five under when you’re leading by three, you’re not going to get caught very often. He’s earned this win,” said Lahiri.
This has been a good week for the Indian golfers in Macao – Rashid Khan finished in T8 to add to the success of Anirban and Chiragh.
Khan made an even 71 to put an end to a series of disappointments in recent times. His final day effort included two birdies and the same number of bogeys.
Gaganjeet Bhullar and SSP Chawrasia were both joined at tied 17th position. Bhullar shot three birdies but also made two bogeys for his one under 70.
Chawrasia’s round was bleeding colours. He shot four birdies and two bogeys in a 33 shot run through the front nine.
He added three more birdies in the first five holes of the back nine, but double bogeys at the 10th and 16th holes and a bogey – bogey finish at the last two holes so him drop back to even terms.
Jyoti Randhawa (70) and Abhijit Chadha (75) underlined Indian presence in the top 50, with the two men finishing T45.
