HONG KONG: India’s Anirban Lahiri secured a one-stroke victory at the $900,000 Macau Open after frontrunner Scott Hend of Australia bogeyed the last hole on Sunday.

Lahiri started the final round two shots behind the overnight leader Hend and trailed by four at one stage at the Macau Golf and Country Club.

But he rallied on the home stretch to beat Hend and Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, signing for a final round of five-under-par 66, which included six birdies, and a winning aggregate of 17-under-par 267.

Hend, the defending champion who arrived in Macau in top form after winning the Hong Kong Open last week, lipped out a par putt from four feet on the 72nd hole. He settled for a 69 while Prom charged up the leaderboard with a 66.

“It’s really special. Hendy was playing great golf and it was sad to see him missing that putt on the last,” said Lahiri, who secured his second win of the season and fifth Asian Tour victory.

“I knew he was playing some good golf and I told myself that I was going to keep coming back, keep coming back and keep attacking.”

Final scores at the par-71 course:

267 — Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 61-73-67-66

268 — Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 68-70-64-66, Scott HEND (AUS) 62-70-67-69

270 — Adam GROOM (AUS) 65-67-72-66

272 — Berry HENSON (USA) 69-70-68-65, Unho PARK (AUS) 70-69-68-65

273 — Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 67-70-67-69

274 — Shiv KAPUR (IND) 73-67-67-67

275 — Kieran PRATT (AUS) 70-69-68-68

276 — Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 71-69-72-64, Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 70-70-71-65, Chan KIM (USA) 70-69-71-66


Murdaca wins Asia-Pacific Amateur to qualify for Masters

Australia’s Antonio Murdaca will play in the 2015 Augusta Masters and the British Open Qualifying Series this year after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne on Sunday.

Murdaca, 19, from Adelaide, became the first Australian winner of the regional championship, closing with a one-under-par 71 to finish seven shots clear of the field for the biggest winning margin in the event’s history.

Heading into the final round eight shots clear, the two-time Australian junior champion saw his lead shrink to five shots through nine holes as Japan’s Mikumu Horikawa briefly threatened.

But it was the only time Murdaca felt any pressure and he responded with a 20-foot birdie on the par-4 10th. Another birdie at the par-5 14th retrieved his advantage to seven shots.

Murdaca made a string of pars to finish and reached the 18th green in regulation to cruise to victory.

Murdaca tapped in for a four to finish at 13-under with rounds of 69-68-67-71, with Horikawa outright second at six-under.

“It’s a dream that’s come true for me now, and I always wanted to play in the Masters,” Murdaca said.

“It’s so exciting now knowing I’ve got a spot in there, and also in the Qualifying Series for The Open at St. Andrews.”