Karandeep Kochhar produced a late flourish with a hat-trick of birdies to register a career-best tied fifth finish at the International Series event here on Sunday.
The Indian golfer signed off with a composed 4-under 67 in the final round, capping it with three successive birdies over the closing holes to climb up the leaderboard. His overall score of 12-under par placed him alongside South Korea’s Hongtaek Kim in tied fifth.
The result marks Kochhar’s best finish at an International Series event, which also contributes to the Asian Tour standings. It was also his second top-five finish in just three starts on the Asian Tour this season, underlining a run of consistent form.
Kochhar’s campaign was highlighted by three bogey-free rounds over four days. However, a third-round 73 proved costly in his bid for a higher finish. His rounds of 67-65-73-65 reflected both his consistency and the impact of that solitary setback.
Starting the final day with an early birdie on the fourth hole, Kochhar turned at 1-under before accelerating late in the round. His strong finish ensured a place among the top contenders in a tightly fought contest.
Veteran Jeev Milkha Singh was the only other Indian to make the cut, finishing tied 70th after an even-par 71 in the final round. He ended the week at 6-over par.
Australia’s Travis Smyth continued his impressive run this season, sealing victory with an eagle on the final hole to finish at 15-under par and win by one stroke. The win keeps him atop the Asian Tour Order of Merit and the International Series standings.
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert finished second at 14-under, producing a stunning final round of 9-under 62.
Kochhar, who has twice finished runner-up on the Asian Tour, has shown strong form this year, having earlier secured a fourth-place finish at the Philippine Golf Championship. His performance in Chiba also earned him USD 74,300, his second-highest payday after his runner-up finish at the 2023 Indonesian Masters.
The Indian now moves up to fifth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, reflecting his steady progress on the international circuit.
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