Kochhar finishes tied-10

Linkou (Chinese Taipei), Sept 8

Karandeep Kochhar rounded off the week with a card of 2-under 70 to log his first top-10 finish on the Asian Tour in close to two years here today.

Kochhar totalled 11-under 277 with rounds of 67-71-69-70 at the $500,000 Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) and picked up just under $8,500 for his efforts.

Kochhar, who had a career-best tied-2nd with six others at the Panasonic Open India in 2017, was the best Indian finisher today as he had three birdies against one bogey.

South Korea’s Yikeun Chang finally ended his title drought when he closed with a flawless 6-under 66 to seal a three-shot victory for his maiden Asian Tour title. The 25-year-old Chang, a three-time runner-up on the Asian Tour, overcame a one-shot deficit as he rode a hot putter to return with a bogey-free round highlighted by six birdies at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

Among other Indians, Shiv Kapur shot a third straight 70 to finish at 9-under 279 for a T-17, while Aman Raj (72) had a steady T-21 finish at 8-under. Viraj Madappa, who shot 65 on the second day, finished with a 72 at T-25. Abhijit Chadha (73) was T-41, while S Chikkarangappa (71) and former winner Ajeetesh Sandhu (69) were T-46. Daniel Chopra (72) was T-61.

Chang would take home a winner’s prize purse of $90,000 following his breakthrough and his winning total of 21-under 267 would also mark the record lowest 72-hole score in the tournament’s 10-year history. 

Gangjee ends T-10 

Yamanashi (Japan): Rahil Gangjee savoured his best result in 13 months, finishing tied-10th at Fujisankei Classic after returning his third successive 3-under 68. 

The Indian golfer, who once had a hole-in-one on a par-4 in the US, had an eagle on a par-4 as he aggregated 5-under 279 for T-10. His earlier rounds were 75, 68 and 68 as he bounced back from a disappointing first round. With this finish Gangjee moves to 62nd on the money list. It was Gangjee’s best finish since his Louis Philippe Cup win on the Asian Development Tour last year in August. 

Sang-Hyun Park started the final round four shots behind the leader but made a splendid charge with a bogey-free 6-under card. While Chan Kim and Ho-Sung Choi battled head-to-head in the final group, Sang-Hyun Park quietly moved up the leaderboard and grabbed a come-from-behind win. This was his second Japan Tour win. — PTI