By Rahul Banerji
It never came down to a straight fight but in the end, it was mighty close between Anirban Lahiri and Australia’s Kevin Yuan, and eventual winner Kieran Vincent at Cam Ranh.
He may have brought in yet another runner-up finish but it was perfect preparation for Lahiri at the $2 million International Series Vietnam ahead of next week’s LIV Golf League’s Adelaide event.
The 35-year-old, who has not won internationally since the 2015 Hero Indian Open came to Cam Ranh with virtually no preparation having also skipped the LIV Golf Orlando event.
In that light, Lahiri could not have asked for more.
Starting the day seven shots behind overnight leader Takumi Kanaya of Japan and from tied 13th place, Lahiri blitzed the KN Golf Links course over his opening 14 holes, picking up eight shots with some faultless golf.
Sudden stop
By then he had overhauled International Series Oman winner Kanaya but the birdies thereafter dried up, even as Yuan from shared second, and Vincent, from fourth place, started to catch up.
Back in the clubhouse, Lahiri held the lead on 18 under 270 but then first Yuan and then Vincent caught up. It was level pegging over the closing stages but Vincent buried a 12-foot birdie putt to now hold the lead.
Australia’s Yuan too had a birdie chance on 18 to force a playoff, but his putt also from 12 feet just missed, leaving the 25-year-old Zimbabwean the winner and richer by a cool #360,000.
It was a family double of sorts too, elder brother Scott Vincent having won the International Series England in June last year.
Lahiri had mixed feelings with the outcome of his Vietnam visit.
In rhythm
“You know I got off to a really good start. I kind of found my rhythm yesterday and today so that was nice,” he told the Asian Tour’s website.
“Yeah, a little upset not to make maybe one or two (birdies) in the last four holes which are very gettable. So yeah, great week, but it’s disappointing. I’ve had so many seconds now I need to break this habit of mine.”
“Excited to take this form into the next few weeks. I think it is going to be an important stretch over the next month, month and a half.
“You know, you get into the meat of the season. And very exciting to go to Australia. I’ve been to Adelaide and I’m hearing great things about the venue, about the people and the anticipation, the buzz is great.
“I’m expecting it to be one of the best events of the year actually, for LIV. So yeah, you know, we’ll be off tomorrow and the show goes on.”
Following the LIV Golf Adelaide event next week is LIV Golf Singapore at month-end.
Final Indian standings
T2 Lahiri -18 (69-70-67-64, 270)
T27 Chikkarangappa S. -12 (69-69-73-65, 276)
T40 Honey Baisoya -10 (65-73-72-68, 278)
T56 Veer Ahlawat -7 (72-69-71-69, 281)
T61 Karandeep Kochhar -6 (69-72-72-69, 282)
70 Kartik Sharma -3 (67-73-72-73, 285)
T71 S.S.P. Chawrasia -2 (69-71-71-75, 286)
Also read: Brooks Koepka first LIV Golf repeat winner, Torque net team title
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