India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar sealed a commanding victory at the Venetian Macau Open Sunday, ending with a three-under-par 68 to secure his second Asian Tour title in five starts.
Bhullar withstood challenges from American Jonathan Moore, who finished two shots back in second place after a 65, and Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong, who closed with a 70 to share third place with Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman (66).
The Indian was in control with an outward 31 to lead by three shots but bogeys on 10 and 13 opened the door for his rivals.
Moore raced home with five closing birdies to put on the pressure but Bhullar responded by draining a six-foot par putt on 17 to hold on to a slender one-shot lead into the last hole.
He then delivered a bravura finish with a 12-foot birdie.
“This is going to take a long time to sink in. I hit the ball so good. I was just in the perfect zone. More than that, it was self-belief. This is my first wire-to-wire Asian Tour title,” Bhullar said.
“I think it was more that I had to prove to myself that I’m a good front-runner. I had to believe in myself. I did it and it was really special,” said Bhullar, who earned US$118,875 for his fourth Asian Tour victory.
Leading scores:
268 – Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 63-68-69-68
270 – Jonathan Moore (USA) 67-68-70-65
272 – Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 66-68-72-66, Thitiphun Chuayprakong (THA) 67-66-69-70
274 – Shiv Kapur (IND) 70-67-70-67
275 – Angelo Que (PHI) 68-66-70-71, Scott Hend (AUS) 65-70-69-71
