Golfer Chiragh finishes tied 23rd at Queen’s Cup

Samui (Thailand), June 19 (IANS) Indian golfer Chiragh Kumar jumped 15 positions to finish joint 23rd after carding two-under 69, while Himmat Rai and Rahil Gangjee finished tied 37th and joint 39th respectively in the Queen’s Cup here on Sunday.

Chiragh got a four-day total of three-under 281 (73-72-67-69) to be the best Indian golfer in action at the Santiburi Samui Country Club.

He scored birdies on the first, second, 10th and 18th holes against bogeys on the third and ninth in the final round for a 69.

Himmat moved down five places after getting two-over 73 in the final round that took his tally to 284.

Gangjee dropped 13 positions following a 75, while a 72 helped S.S.P. Chawrasia move up seven spots as both shared the 39th position on one-over 285 total.

S. Chikka finished tied 55th after getting a 72 that took his total to 287 in the $300,000 Asian Tour tournament.

Meanwhile, Australian Scott Hend enjoyed a one-shot triumph for his second title of the season and ninth victory on the Asian Tour. He scored a total of 15-under 269 and earned $54,000 for the win.

The big-hitting Aussie overcame a two-shot deficit with a final round of 67 to pip home talent Gunn Charoenkul, who signed off with a bogey-free 66 for his best finish on Tour.

Overnight leader Prom Meesawat endured a disappointing 72 to finish three back in joint third place with American Paul Peterson (69), Korea’s Jeunghun Wang (69) and Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert (66).

“I lost the tournament in Wentworth, lost the tournament in Mauritius and had chances in China. That’s four times this year and I didn’t win," said Hend, who was victorious at the True Thailand Classic earlier this season.

Whether this was my golf course or not, I’ve been playing very good golf and trying to not get down on myself. It’s nice to win again.”

Hend turned in 35 and then drew level with Prom with birdies on the 11th and 12th. He surged ahead with a seven-foot birdie on the 14th which the Thai bogeyed after finding trouble with an errant drive.

With a two-shot lead, the Aussie parred home to hoist the Queen’s Cup, only the second non-Thai to win the tournament since it joined the Asian Tour Schedule in 2009.

Hend’s latest victory could see him overtake countryman Marcus Fraser on the world rankings and put him in position to make the Olympic Games.