The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Lee edges out Barr

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 07, 2005

Sport

Sport - Golf

Lee edges out Barr

PHUKET, Thailand, march 6. New Zealand's Richard Lee dashed Scott Barr's dream of winning his first Asian Tour on Sunday, thrashing the Singapore-based Australian in a thrilling sudden-death play-off to capture the US$500,000 (euro382,000) Thailand Open.

The 31-year-old Lee carded a final round of two-under-par 70 on a blustery day at Blue Canyon Country Club to tie overnight joint leader Barr on nine-under-par 279.

Lee went on to win the first sudden-death hole with a par as Barr bogeyed after a wayward drive. Scott Strange of Australia, last week's Myanmar Open champion, called a rule infringement on himself en route to a 72 and finished third with American Bryan Saltus on 280, while India's Harmeet Kahlon finished fifth, a further stroke back, after a closing 74.

It was a hard-fought battle on the final day of the Asian Tour event as Indian Harmeet Kahlon was locked in a tight contest with Barr and Strange.

Strange seized the lead after shooting the first 11 holes with a combined 10-under-par, while Kahlon and Barr had similar 10 under after 10 holes. But he was dropped by one point when his golf ball shifted while he started to putt, spoiling Strange's chances.

But it was Lee who continued his scintillating run in the final round. After matching Barr's four-round 279 aggregate, he capped an exceptional performance, beating Barr in just one hole on 18. — AP

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