From a Correspondent
Jakarta: India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar claimed the $500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open today at Pondok Indah Golf Course on Sunday to make history by becoming the first player to win the tournament on three occasions.
Bhullar produced one of the finest rounds of his career to return a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 for a tournament total of 20 under.
It gave him a two-shot victory over fellow-Indian Rashid Khan (68) and England’s Steve Lewton, who carded a 64.
Rashid (68-70-64-68) had started the day in front with Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai but Bhullar (68-67-68-65) was unstoppable and a man on a mission.
The man from Kapurthala made three birdies on the front nine and four more on the back – which included three on the trot from the 13th.
Bhullar showed no sign of Sunday nerves and put on a putting masterclass, holing brilliant birdie putts and crucial par saves, to record his 10th win on the Asian Tour and first since 2018.
Overall, it was Bhullar’s 11th international win and the fourth in Indonesia.
Success story
He has now won more titles on Tour than any other player from his country.
“I played like a champion tee to green and gave myself so many birdie opportunities,” said the 34-year-old, who won this event in 2013 and 2016, with the latter win here at Pondok Indah.
“I was riding high on confidence, hit the ball really good. It is a great week, I had a lot of positive memories having won this tournament two times previous, that was definitely on my subconscious mind.
“The goal was just to go out there and give my 100 percent.”
Bhullar also won his first event on Tour in Indonesia back in 2009 and joins an elite group of players who have won a national Open in Asia at least three times.
Illustrious list
They include Peter Thomson (Hong Kong Open and Indian Open); Jyoti Randhawa (Indian Open); Adam Scott (Singapore Open); Jumbo Ozaki and Tommy Nakajima (Japan Open); Lu Liang-Huan, aka ‘Mr Lu’ (Philippine Open and Taiwan Open); and Miguel Angel Jimenez (Hong Kong Open).
“This is my first win after becoming a father and I would like to dedicate this win to my 11- month old daughter.
“Also, after over two difficult years because of Covid it’s just amazing the Asian Tour is back in this wonderful country. The support for me here has been incredible.”
Lewton stormed through with four birdies in the last seven holes, including on 17 and 18.
He said: “It was fun. Yeah, played really good this weekend. It felt like I left quite a few out there, but on the whole, seeing as I haven’t played for a while, I played really well.”
Khan, a two-time Asian Tour winner himself, also made up ground over the closing holes with four birdies on the homeward stretch having started with nine straight pars.
“It was a little confusing for me at the start,” said the Indian.
Covering ground
“I couldn’t make any birdies on the first nine holes, so it was a little difficult for me to come back after that. I had my first birdie on the 10th so I got a little thinking that I can make a few more.
“When I checked the score Bhullar played a really good round today, shot seven under and bogey-free.”
Bhullar climbed from 24th to 10th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit while Khan’s joint runner-up finish moved him up from 50th to 27th place.
Ajeetesh Sandhu finished as the third Indian in the top-20 as he claimed tied 19th place at 11-under 277.
Bhullar, Lewton and Rashid several others from the field now head for next week’s International Series Singapore next week at Tanah Merah Country Club.
Also read: Bhullar finds fitness and focus ahead of Indonesian Open