Hua Hin: Anirban Lahiri rounded off the season with yet another top-3 finish as the Indian golfer carded a four-under 68 to end third at the USD 1 million King's Cup Golf Hua Hin here on Sunday. Lahiri totaled nine-under 279 and was three shots behind winner, Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng (66) at 12-under. Swede Rikard Karlberg (67) was second at 11-under 277 at the Black Mountain Golf Club.
Winner of one title, Lahiri has had three other second place finishes and this one in third adds to a fine year, where he has finished in third place on the Order of Merit. It also sealed his place on the Asian team for the EurAsia Cup in March. Rahil Gangjee (72) had a birdie-birdie finish to be tied 12th at three-under, while SSP Chowrasia (71) was tied 17th at two-under 286 and Jyoti Randhawa (69) was tied 21st at one-under 287.
Speaking about the final round, Lahiri said: "It was a good solid round of golf for me. I had it going early on then I lost it through the middle of the round. I should have made a couple more birdies but I'm really happy with another solid week. Lots of positives that I can take back from this week. I needed something like that (eagle on 17) because I couldn't get the round going."
"It has been a great season for me to finish on a high. Hopefully I go out and work more on my fitness and game and come back stronger for the new season," said the 26-year-old Indian, whose round was highlighted by three birdies, one bogey and an eagle.
Prayad Marksaeng completed a Royal double when he posted a six-under 66 to win the King's Cup Golf and he added that to the Queen's Cup he won in June. Karlberg, who had taken a share of the lead for the first two rounds, had to settle for second place after signing off with a 67.
Thailand's Prom Meesawat will have to wait longer for his second Asian Tour win as a final round 71 saw him finish in equal third alongside compatriot Chapchai Nirat and India's Anirban Lahiri. "I'm extremely happy to win the King's Cup because it's a great event and also staged in my home town here in Hua Hin.
This win is especially special as it's dedicated to all the Thai people," said Prayad, who took home the winner's prize purse of USD 180,000 to surpass the USD 3 million career earnings mark on the Asian Tour. Prayad, who will turn 48 at the end of the month, showed he is still a force to be reckoned with from the get-go with three birdies in his opening four holes.
After turning in 34, he birdied the par-four 10th to move within two shots back of Karlberg at nine-under. The roars from the galleries erupted when Prayad sank his eagle putt from 20 feet to dethrone Karlberg from the top after the Swede succumbed to his nerves by making consecutive bogeys on holes 13 and 14.
Prayad's eighth win on the region's premier Tour was confirmed after another birdie on the 17th ensured his unassailable lead and victory which he celebrated by jumping into the ninth hole greenside lake. Karlberg was left to rue what could have been as he never recovered after a costly bogey on the 13th hole.
Although he closed with two birdies on holes 17 and 18, it was not enough to catch Prayad on the day where the Thai veteran was at his best. Meanwhile, Lahiri confirmed his place at the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM set to tee off in Malaysia in March.
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