HONG KONG: India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar sealed a commanding victory at the Venetian Macau Open yesterday, 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 $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

Liang wins playoff

to take China Masters

In Beijing, Local favorite Liang Wenchong sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole of a sudden-death playoff to overtake South Korea’s Y.E. Yang and win the Nanshan China Masters yesterday.

Yang scored a two-under-par fourth-round 69 to overnight leader Liang’s 73 to leave both at eight under for the tournament.

They then matched each other shot-for-shot as they played the 18th five times to try to settle the OneAsia $1 million event.

Neither player has won on any tour since each claiming two OneAsia titles in 2010. For a time it seemed that Australian Aaron Townsend (72) might pip them both in the final round.

But Townsend stuttered down the finish, and missed the playoff by one stroke after two bogeys in the last five holes.

“I’m very happy,” Liang said after sinking his putt in fading light at the Nanshan International Golf Club’s Danling course.

“I have never been involved in something like this. Thanks to Y.E. for making it so exciting,” he said, according to a statement from the organizers.

Yang, who won the 2009 PGA Championship to become the first Major winner from Asia, said he was disappointed that his final-round charge did not succeed, but added that Liang was a worthy winner.

Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Champion, was three shots off the pace after a final-round 67. He ended in joint fourth place with Wang Jeung-Hun of Korea and American Garrett Sapp, who both closed with 69s.

“There were a lot of birdie opportunities but I just didn’t make as many as I could have,” the South African said. “It is a bit frustrating when I think of the missed opportunities on the first two days.”

Liang earned around $180,000 for his fourth victory on OneAsia.

Leading scores:

276 — Liang Wenchong (CHN) 68-67-68-73, Y. E. Yang (KOR) 71-68-68-69

277 — Aaron Townsend (AUS) 69-67-69-72

279 — Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 71-72-69-67, Wang Jeung-Hun (KOR) 69-71-70-69, Garrett Sapp (USA) 73-70-67-69

280 — Michael Hendry (NZL) 72-73-67-68

281 — Steven Jones (AUS) 68-74-72-67, Rory Hie (INA) 74-69-69-69, Scott Laycock (AUS) 70-71-70-70