Chowrasia, Randhawa finish tied 22nd at Hong Kong

HONG KONG - S.S.P. Chowrasia and Jyoti Randhawa had contrasting fortunes but ended in the same tied 22nd position as the curtain came down on the UBS Hong Kong Open golf Sunday.

Chowrasia closed with a 65, just as he had opened with a 65 and with 69 and 73 in between, and he ended at eight-under. Randhawa, tenth overnight, dropped two bogeys on 16th and 18th and from a probable top-10 he slipped to 22nd.

Frances Gregory Bourdy fended off a spirited challenge by Northern Irelands Rory McIlroy to close with a three-under-par 67 to win the title.

Jeev Milkha Singh, the only Indian to qualify for the Race to Dubai next week, left Hong Kong in high spirits after his best round for the week at four-under 66 that lifted him from overnight 50th to tied 36th. That round felt nice after sometime, said Jeev.

Rahil Gangjee had an up-and-down round as he tried to make up as many places as possible to try and make his Asian Tour card for 2010. He had five birdies, but he also had two bogeys, one on 18th, and a double on first in his 69 that saw him at six-under in tied 36th.

Shiv Kapur shot a 68 and ended at tied 48th at four-under.

Chowrasia was three-under after eight and then dropped a bogey on ninth. He had three more birdies from 13th to 17th and then closed with a par for 65.

“Ive been playing well all week because of my swings and my putts. I like playing on this course too. Ill be playing more in Europe next season but will also be back in Asia to compete. My game is all coming together now and I believe being a global player has definitely helped me improve my game, said Chowrasia.

Bourdy sealed his third career victory at the Hong Kong Golf Club with a four-day total of 19-under-par 261. McIlroys late rally was not enough to make up for the heartbreak of last year and he had to settle for second place again after signing off with a 64 for a 263 total.

Italys Francesco Molinari closed with a 64 to take a share of third place with Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands on 264 while Englands Ian Poulter and Frances Raphael Jacquelin were tied for fifth on 266.

The 27-year-old Bourdy who led the US$2.5 showpiece since the end of the second round never seemed likely to lose his grip of the lead despite a late scare from McIlroy who moved to within a single shot of him after the 16th hole.

The Frenchman dropped his only shot of the day on the par-three eighth but answered with four birdies on the fifth, sixth, 10th and 13th to etch his name into the roll of honour.