Lahiri signs off tied 4th in Cambodian Open

Siem Reap (Cambodia): Anirban Lahiri inched closer to retaining his Asian Tour card for next season by finishing a creditable tied fourth with a three-under 69 in the final round of the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open golf tournament on Sunday.

Lahiri posted a four-day total of 14-under 274 to take back a cheque of USD 13,545 in the USD 300,000 event. The Indian was lying 61st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, which is the cut-off for securing the playing rights for 2011, and is expected to rise slightly after this. "I started quite badly but I`m happy with how I managed to finish this week. I`ve been playing really good from the second day. I only made one mistake today, a triple bogey on the seventh hole but I`m really proud that I made four birdies in a row after that to come back into it," Lahiri said of his round on Sunday. "I`m pleased and quite happy with the way it has ended up and hopefully it should be enough to secure my Tour card for next year. I played really well in Black Mountain last year and if I got my card which I think I do, then I got to go there and try and win and get my rankings further up," he added. The other Indian in fray, Himmat Rai returned his best card of the week -- a three-under 69 -- to rise nine rungs and end tied 19th with a total of seven-under 281. Thai star Thongchai Jaidee (65) lifted the trophy with a total of 21-under 267. PTI