INDIA'S LAHIRI RETAINS SAIL OPEN TITLE AFTER PLAY-OFF

  NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

New Delhi: India’s Anirban Lahiri successfully defended his title at the SAIL-SBI Open presented by Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism following a thrilling play-off victory over young countryman Rashid Khan today.

The 25-year-old Lahiri birdied the 18^th hole from 10 feet in regulation play to force extra-time and then claimed his third Asian Tour victory with a four-foot birdie conversion on the same hole in front of a large gallery at the Delhi Golf Club.

Khan, 22, gave himself a great chance of a maiden title on the region’s premier Tour with a superb final round of six-under-par 66 which included a closing birdie but he could not prevent a dominant Lahiri, who signed off with a 68, from grabbing the winner’s cheque of US$54,000.

Overnight leader Siddikur of Bangladesh closed with a disappointing 73 to finish third, four shots behind the play off duo while Shiv Kapur of India settled for fourth place after a 70. Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradit and Australian rookie Matthew Stieger ended in tied fifth place.

“It’s not sunk in. I’m still in disbelief that I made the putt in regulation and got into the play-off. After that, in the next 15 minutes, I didn’t know what happened. Unfortunately for Rashid, it didn’t work out for him. I feel bad for him as he doesn’t have a card on the Asian Tour. He’s got a bright future ahead of him,” said a gracious Lahiri, who ended the week on 15-under-par 273 with Khan.

The final round of the US$300,000 event, which is part of the Asian Tour’s milestone 10^th season celebration in 2013, was a nail-biting affair with Khan and Lahiri exchanging leads on the back nine.

The slender Khan, playing in the penultimate group, brilliantly birdied his 72^nd hole from three feet but could do very little as Lahiri coolly matched his closing birdie from 10 feet to force the play-off.

Lahiri was overjoyed to taste victory for the third time at the demanding Delhi course, which he disliked early on in his career. “I feel great winning here again. In regulation play standing over the 10 ^-footer, I took my time and decided what I wanted to do. I think this is the calmest I’ve ever been in that situation,” said Lahiri.

Khan, who grew up at the Delhi course, held his head up high. “I played really good. Holed good putts and played really well this week. Starting with a par 72 on the first day and losing in a play-off, it’s disappointing,” said Khan, who picked up US$33,000.

“In the play-off, I just misread my third shot and hit it too far right (to 15 feet of the flag). I wasn’t too sure of the line and hit it a bit right.  I was expecting Anirban to make birdie in regulation. He’s won here twice before and I knew it was going to be a play-off. I was prepared for it but it didn’t work out.”

Siddikur, who has three top-fives at the course in the past two seasons, started brilliantly with two opening birdies to cement his lead early on but four bogeys in his next seven holes derailed his hopes of a second Asian Tour title.

“Today, I was totally off. My hitting was bad. From the centre of the fairway, I made three bogeys on four, 13 and 17. The balls were going too long,” said the Bangladeshi. “I saw Anirban and Rashid going up the leaderboard but I couldn’t catch them. I couldn’t make the birdies.”

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72) Yardate 6, 935  

273 - Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 71-68-66-68, Rashid KHAN (IND) 72-64-71-66.

(Lahiri wins with a birdie in the first play-off hole)

277 - SIDDIKUR  (BAN) 68-68-68-73.

278 - Shiv KAPUR (IND) 69-70-69-70.

279 - Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 70-69-71-69, Matthew STIEGER (AUS) 70-71-68-70.

280 - Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 69-75-68-68.

281 - Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 72-69-70-70, Chan KIM (USA) 67-68-74-72, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 66-75-67-73.

282 - Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 70-70-73-69, BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 71-69-72-70, Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 71-73-67-71, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 66-69-71-76.

283 - Shankar DAS (IND) 73-72-71-67, Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 70-71-72-70, Jason KNUTZON (USA) 69-74-70-70, Vinod KUMAR (IND) 73-73-66-71, Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 70-70-71-72, Adam GROOM (AUS) 71-71-69-72.