01 July 2018: We are less than a fortnight from the third major on the golfing calendar and news is getting increasingly better for Indian golf. Gaganjeet Bhullar capped off a stellar week in Thailand finishing second in the Queen’s Cup. The Indian had an up and down final round, eventually battling his way to an even 71, ending the week at 15-under 269. Jazz Janewattananond pulled a rabbit out of his hat with a spectacular birdie blitz on the back nine to clinch a four-stroke victory.
American Sihwan Kim and Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand shared third place on 270 following respective rounds of 70 and 71.
Gaganjeet had to content himself with a second place finish for the second time in two months. After three straight rounds in the 60s, the Indian shot an even 71 on Sunday. Even though he was running neck and neck with Jazz for much of the final round, the Thai star ran away into the distance on the final stretch.
The 30-year-old started his final round with a birdie on the second hole, a 562 yard par-5. But he conceded a bogey on the very next hole and that was to be the tone of his round.
Gaganjeet recovered from a bogey at the seventh hole with a birdie right after the turn.
“It wasn’t easy out there. It was definitely one of the toughest days this week. I didn’t get off to a good start. I made a few silly mistakes as well,” explained a candid Gaganjeet. “But I finished strong, had two good par-saves on 16 and 17 and a good up and down for birdie on the last to finish solo second.
“It’s still a good result for me. I am happy to be able to earn some world ranking points this week. It could have been better but Jazz played really well today. His five birdies in-a-row pretty much changed the whole scenario.”
After making a bogey at the 15th, Gaganjeet ended the week a final flourish. He shot birdie at the 18th hole to finish the week four strokes behind the winner.
Select Scores:
265 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 64-66-68-67.
269 – Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 68-65-65-71.
270 – Sihwan KIM (USA) 66-64-70-70, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 67-67-65-71.
271 – Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 67-66-69-69.
272 – Danthai BOONMA (THA) 65-72-69-66, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 66-70-69-67, Sadom KAEWKANJANA (am, THA) 70-64-66-72, Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 66-71-63-72.
273 – Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 71-69-67-66, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 69-69-67-68, Tanapat PICHAIKOOL (am, THA) 68-68-68-69.
274 – Chaiphat KOONMARK (THA) 69-67-72-66, Javi COLOMO (ESP) 69-70-67-68, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 71-65-70-68, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 69-70-67-68, Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 66-70-69-69, Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 63-70-69-72.
275 – Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 69-68-67-71, Dino A. GIACOMAZZI (USA) 66-68-69-72.
276 – Chikkarangappa S. (IND) 70-68-70-68, Berry HENSON (USA) 71-65-71-69, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 72-67-67-70, WANG Wei-lun (TPE) 68-67-70-71, Jarin TODD (USA) 68-68-69-71, Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 67-70-68-71, Paul PETERSON (USA) 65-72-68-71, Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 71-65-68-72, Rashid KHAN (IND) 69-67-68-72.
