Macao Open: Anirban Lahiri loses play-off, Chikka finishes third

Anirban Lahiri reeled off seven successive birdies to make the play-off but missed the title after losing to Thai Pavit Tangkamolprasert on the final day of the Venetian Macao Open here on Sunday.

Lahiri found water on the second shot following an errant drive in the play-off.

There were four Indians in the top-eight, with Lahiri’s friend, S. Chikkarangappa ending tied third, Rahil Gangjee finishing seventh and Rashid Khan signing off tied eighth.

Jyoti Randhawa (71) was tied 34th, S.S.P. Chawrasia (70) and Chiragh Kumar (71) were tied 34th, Shankar Das (75) was tied 46th, Daniel Chopra (70) was tied 51st, Khalin Joshi (71) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (73) were tied 57th and Arjun Atwal (75) was tied 81st.

Pavit seemed to have kept his nerve for the 18th hole birdie, but it turned out that he may have benefitted from the lack of leader-boards on 16th and 17th.

Pavit admitted he didn’t know Lahiri was on a birdie blitz and said, “I didn’t see the scores on the back nine as there was no leader-board.”

Lahiri, when asked, added, “One of the things that didn’t help me was there was no leader-boards on the 16 and 17. If he had seen I had caught up and I was two back, on the 17the tee, it would be a harder shot. If he’s thinking he’s four ahead, it’s easier for him to play the last two holes.”

It was Lahiri’s third second place in four years at Venetian Macao Open and he has won once in 2014.

Chikka added a third straight top-10, this one being his best Asian Tour result.