Chikka finishes in Top-10 in Mercuries Taiwan Masters

S Chikkarangappa did manage to end up in the Top-10, but a bogey-filled back nine thwarted a better finish at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Sunday.

Chikka, who will be playing at the World Cup this year, carded two-over 74, which included four bogeys in last six holes. He finished at three-over 291 and in Tied-ninth place, his second Top-10 on the Asian Tour this year. He was Tied-fourth at the Bangladesh Open earlier in the year.

Himmat Rai (73) with bogey and no birdies was Tied-15th at five-over 293, Chiragh Kumar (74) was Tied-19th at six-over 294 and Shubhankar Sharma (77) was Tied-33rd at 11-over 299.

Lu Wei-chih of Chinese Taipei won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Sunday to revive his career after going through a brain surgery to remove a non-malignant tumour in mid-2012.

Lu battled against the odds to shoot a two-under-par 70 and win the tournament for the third time in his career with a five-under-par 283 total at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club, which is also his home course.

Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines fired a 70 to finish in second place, one shot back from the champion, while Thailand’s Danthai Boonma and Phachara Khongwatmai shared third place on 

285 at the US$800,000 Asian Tour event.

Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand, who led in the last three rounds, slipped to a share of sixth place following a disappointing 76.

The story of the day belonged to the 37-year-old Lu, who said, “It means a lot to me to win this tournament. After the surgery, I thought I couldn’t play golf anymore so to be a winner again is amazing.” He won US$160,000.