Asian Tour: Chowrasia finishes 10th in Manila; Lahiri 22nd

Manila: SSP Chowrasia rounded off the ICTSI Philippine Open with a three-under 69 to finish 10th here today.

For Chowrasia, this was the third top-10 of the year and he has also finished tied 11th once. Anirban Lahiri landed two eagles besides one birdie, one bogey and one double bogey in his 70 to finish tied 22nd, the same as Abhijit Chadha, who closed with a 72.

Meanwhile, Marcus Both of Australia secured an emphatic victory to revive his career after thinking of quitting the game last year. The towering Aussie, who lost his Asian Tour card last year for the first time since 2003, posted a two-under-par 70 for a winning total of six-under-par 282 at the USD 300,000 Asian Tour event.

EurAsia Cup star Siddikur Rahman (69) of Bangladesh, Tour rookie Nathan Holman (70) of Australia, Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij (70) and home heroes Antonio Lascuna (70) and Jay Bayron (72) finished two shots back for tied second on 284.

Overnight leader Chan Kim of the United States carded 76 and slipped to 10th at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Both was almost reduced to tears after winning his third Asian Tour title and ending a five-year title drought on the region’s premier Tour. The victory was even sweeter as the Australian lost his playing rights last year and had to rely on a sponsor’s invite this week.

“It was an emotional year on and off the golf course after I lost my Tour card. I had to return to Qualifying School earlier this year and I missed the cut by one shot. It was so bad that I even thought of quitting the game,” said the 34-year-old Both, who won USD 54,000.

“Words can’t describe how it feels from being an invite to a winner this week. I have to thank ICTSI and the Asian Tour for giving me the invite. To come away with the trophy is amazing. I’m a bit lost for words,” he added.

PTI