Gangjee tied 10th, Chowrasia 19th as Noh pulls off win

KUALA LUMPUR - Two birdies at the very end saw Rahil Gangjee atone for his earlier mistakes and finish tied 10th at the Maybank Malaysian Open here Sunday.

Gangjee, for the second start in a row was the best Indian at an event, co-sanctioned by European and Asian Tours.

Gangjee, who had slipped from contention to tied 14th at the Avantha Masters, had a decent week with three sib-par rounds and one bad one of 75 on the second day.

Meanwhile, the Korean teen sensation Noh Seung-yul, 18, eked out a dramatic one-stroke victory over star countryman K.J. Choi after pulling off a sensational final-hole birdie.

Gangjee had an eagle chance on the 18th and said, “I was trying to rush my shot (chip in on the 18th hole). A huge crowd seems to get me going. My eagle must have been at least 25 to 30 yards. There was a guy asking me for my ball before my chip, so I gave it to him later.

“Im not disappointed with my game this week. The chip in was really the highlight. I have no complaints,” said Gangjee.

S.S.P. Chowrasia had his best finish on the European Tour since his win at Indian Masters in 2008, with a tied 19th place. He shot a final round of 70 to finish at five-under 279.

Arjun Atwal with a 69 finished at three-under in tied 28th place, while Gaganjeet Bhullar was disappointed his birdie-less 74 to finish one-under 283 in tied 39th. Digvijay Singh (72) and C. Muniyappa (76) were tied 60th and tied 70th respectively.

Gangjee, who opened with a birdie on first added a second on sixth but then three bogeys in four holes from seventh to 10th. A birdie on 12th and then another on 14th saw him come under par again. But again he faltered with a double bogey on 15th, before his birdie-birdie finish for 71.

Noh produced the unlikeliest of birdies at the par five 634-yard 18th hole to close out the $2 million tournament with a final round four-under-par 68 and a 14-under-par 274 winning aggregate.

Co-overnight leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat, chasing a maiden Asian Tour victory, fought hard but eventually settled for a share of third place with Soren Hansen and Rhys Davies on 276. Aphibarnrat and Davies signed off with a 71 while Hansen shot a 70.