Johor Bahru (Malaysia): Rising star Joost Luiten of the Netherlands translated a run of good form to win the weather-shortened Iskandar Johor Open Sunday. India`s Shiv Kapur finished tied 15th.
Luiten overcame a four-shot deficit with a sizzling six-under-par 65 to defeat Daniel Chopra of Sweden by one shot in the $2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour that was reduced to 54 holes due to adverse weather in the last three days.
Chopra narrowly missed his 20 foot eagle putt on the last hole to force a play-off and settled for second with a final round 70 at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.
Former Asian Tour member Rhys Davies of Wales, title holder Padraig Harrington of Ireland and James Morrison of England finished in tied third, two shots from the champion.
Kapur alongside Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, a three-time Asian Tour number one, Charlie Wi of Korea, and Bangladeshi Siddikur ended their campaigns as the top Asians in tied 15th place.
Luiten, who has six 10-tops this year, turned in 30 highlighted by a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole before adding another birdie on 11 to win his first European Tour title.
Playing on the second last flight, Luiten had an agonizing wait but revelled in delight when Chopra missed his eagle putt on the last which would have forced a play-off.
"Well it is always tough to get your first Tour win and you will always believe that you will get a good one. I have come close for a few times and I am really relieved to finally win and looking for the next one," said the 25-year-old, who won $333,330 with a winning total of 15-under-par 198.
Chopra, who held a two-shot lead after play was suspended yesterday, was disappointed not to recapture the title he won way back in 1993.
His title hopes looked to have faded after a double bogey on seven but the two-time PGA Tour winner battled back with three birdies in his closing six holes to finish lone second.
"I was very disappointed because I hit the ball really nicely (the double bogey). It was really the only bad shot I made all day. I had a bad break there but I knew there was a long way to go and if I could get some birdies, I would still have a chance to win. I just tried to stay patient," said Chopra, who grew up in India.
Final scores:
198 - Joost Luiten (NED) 63-70-65.
199 - Daniel Chopra (SWE) 64-65-70.
200 - Rhys Davies (WAL) 70-65-65, James Morrison (ENG) 66-65-69, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 64-67-69.
201 - Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 64-67-70.
202 - Soren Kjeldsen(DEN) 71-64-67.
203 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 69-67-67, Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE) 68-67-68, Darren Beck (AUS) 70-65-68, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 64-70-69, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 67-67-69.
204 - Marcel Siem (GER) 69-67-68, Soren Hansen (DEN) 68-67-69.
205 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 70-68-67, Charlie Wi (KOR) 66-72-67, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69-69-67, Brett Rumford (AUS) 71-64-70, Michael Jonzon (SWE) 69-65-71, Christian Nilsson (SWE) 67-67-71, Siddikur (BAN) 67-67-71, Ross Fisher (ENG) 71-69-65.
IANS
First Published: Sunday, November 20, 2011, 18:23