Bhullar bags fifth Asian Tour title with win in Indonesia

India's Gaganjeet Bhullar was in his element as he carded 16-under-268 for the week to lift his fifth Asian Tour title with victory at the Indonesia Open, in Jakarta on Sunday.

Bhullar, who had a forgettable outing at the World Cup of Golf last week, fired a bogey-free 68 in the final round to come home the winner. He thus ended up being the wire-to-wire leader from round one till the very end. He shot scores of 64 67 69 and 69.

Bhullar sank all his three birdies on the back-nine – 11th, 13th and 14th. He was solid through the week having conceded only three bogeys and a double-bogey over the last four days.

Interestingly, the 25-year-old had also won his first Asian Tour title in Indonesia back in 2009.

Bhullar has had a brilliant season so far. He posted a runner-up finish at the Avantha Masters, a European Tour & Asian Tour co-sanctioned event, earlier this year.

This win is expected to push him up on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, where he is currently ranked sixth.

Malaysia's Nicholas Fung and Thailand's Chapchai Nirat finished three strokes behind Bhullar in joint second.

Another Indian, Jyoti Randhawa claimed fifth place at 11-under-273 while Anirban Lahiri secured tied sixth at 10-under-274 to make it three Indians in the top-6.

PGTI member Mohammad Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh finished with a four-day total of 12-under-272 to bag fourth place.

Lahiri, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, posted a 68 in the final round in Indonesia to grab a share of sixth place. Shiv Kapur, Chiragh Kumar and SSP Chowrasia were all in tied 23rd with identical totals of five-under-279. Sujjan Singh was a further shot behind in tied 29th place.

Among the other Indians who made the cut, Himmat Singh Rai secured tied 35th place (three-under-281), Abhinav Lohan was tied 51st (one-over-285) and Rahil Gangjee claimed 64th position (four-over-288).

Image:  Gaganjeet Bhullar

Photograph: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters