Gaganjeet Bhullar romps home to eighth Asian Tour title

New Delhi: Golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar clinched a three-shot victory at the Macau Open to bag his eighth Asian Tour title on Sunday. As a result, Bhullar etched his name on the Macau Open trophy for the second time having previously won the event in 2012.

Bhullar (64-65-74-68) was unstoppable on the final day of the $500,000 event as he brought in a card of three-under-68 to end up with a winning total of 13-under-271.

Among other Indians in action, Ajeetesh Sandhu (66-67-71-70), fresh from his twin triumphs in Taiwan and Japan over the last two weeks, delivered a last round of one-under-70 to grab a share of the second place at 10-under-274.

Sandhu shared the runner-up spot with Angelo Que (69) of the Philippines.

Bhullar, overnight leader by one shot, put behind the disappointment of an ordinary third round effort of three-over-74 as he bounced back in Round Four with seven birdies at the cost of two bogeys and a double bogey.

Bhullar began the day with a bogey to concede his outright lead and slip into joint lead along with compatriot Sandhu. But he then rallied with six birdies over the next 12 holes to build a healthy five-shot lead to all but run away with the title.

The strapping 29-year-old from Kapurthala, Punjab, has now equalled Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa’s record of most wins (8) by an Indian on the Asian Tour.

It was also Bhullar’s third wire-to-wire victory of his career following the Macau Open 2012 and the Indonesia Open 2013.

Rashid Khan shot a stunning final round of seven-under-64 — the day’s best — to climb 19 places to tied fifth at six-under-278. His presence in tied fifth made it three Indians in the top-6 this week.

Chiragh Kumar also finished inside the top-20. He was tied 19th at even-par-284. Shubhankar Sharma was tied 24th.