Jeev Milkha Singh finished tied fourth for the second week in a row after bringing home a card of even-par 72 in the final round of the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open here today.
The Indian golfer dropped an early double bogey on the fourth and then a late bogey on the 17th, besides four birdies, to finish the week at four-under 280.
Anirban Lahiri (73) totaled 287 and finished in a tie for 34th alongside Ryo Ishikawa (73).
Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka (67), who began four shots behind overnight leader, Daisuke Maruyama (75) turned the tables and ended a winner, even as the latter finished four behind in tied fourth.
Hiratsuka’s 67 was built on four birdies, an eagle on 11th and two bogeys on first and sixth. He won by three shots over Do-Hoom Kim (68) and SK Ho (73), who finished at five-under 279.
Jeev, starting the day at four-under, looked fine with a birdie on the second but after that he was patchy. He double bogeyed the fourth, birdied the fifth and again bogeyed the sixth.
A birdie again on seventh followed by two pars saw him turn in even par 35. On the back nine he had one birdie on 15th and bogeyed the 17th but for which he would have been tied second with Ho and Kim.
Lahiri, who signed up with Panasonic as Sporting Ambassador during the week, had three birdies and five bogeys in his 73.
Hiratsuka closed at eight-under 276 while Ho and Kim signed for 279s at the USD 1.7 million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger closed with 73 to take a share of fourth place alongside Maruyama, Hiroyuki Fujita, Toshinori Muto and Jeev Milkha Singh at the Biwako Country Club.
Starting the day, four shots back of Ho in equal sixth place, Hiratsuka got off poorly with an opening bogey but he responded quickly with a birdie on the par-four third.
Hiratsuka turned in 35 after another bogey on the sixth hole and birdie on the par-four eighth. His eagle-two on the par four 11th lifted him up to second place, one back of Ho with seven holes to play.
Hiratsuka then snatched the lead from under the nose of Ho with a vital birdie on the 13th hole before another birdie on 16th sealed his entry into the winner’s circle again.
