Crucial eagle gives Bhullar victory in Fiji
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India鈥檚 Gaganjeet Bhullar held off a record-breaking charge from Australian Anthony Quale yesterday to win the Fiji International by one stroke while Ernie Els shot a 7-under 65 to finish a further stroke behind.
Bhullar, the overnight leader by a shot, produced his best round of the tournament, a 6-under 66, to move to 14-under over four rounds at the par-72 Natadola Bay course in Sigatoka. Quayle went lower, shooting a course record 9-under 63 to all but snatch the trophy and the winner鈥檚 share of a US$1.2-million purse.
Bhullar and Quayle shared 11 birdies and three eagles in a thrilling final-round duel while Els added an eagle and six birdies for his first top-10 finish since June 2016.
New Zealand鈥檚 Ben Campbell, leader after the first and second rounds, tied Els in third place at 12-under while Australian Jarryd Felton was fifth two shots back.
The par-5 17th played a big part in the theater of the final round as Quayle and Bhullar made back-to-back eagles. Quayle had taken the lead at 13-under as he played his first 14 holes in 7-under par and had picked up nine shots in 13 holes when he eagled the 17th.
But the 30-year-old Bhullar snatched back the lead when he chipped in from 40 meters at the 17th just as Quayle reached the clubhouse. A par at the last was enough to retain the lead and to give him his fourth Asian Tour title in three seasons.
鈥淭o be honest, I was mentally prepared for that,鈥 Bhullar said. 鈥淚 knew somebody or another had to go low today. Even Ernie Els, he鈥檚 a legend, he was playing really well. I still had hopes. I still had kind of a feeling that I can still win the tournament, but I think that chip-in on No. 17, that pretty much closed out the day.鈥
Four-time major winner Els gave notice of his challenge with an eagle at the par-5 first which put him within a shot of the lead. 鈥淚 did almost as much as I could,鈥 the South African said. 鈥淚 set out to try to shoot 65, which I did, and Anthony just played unbelievable. Jeez, what is it, 29 on the back nine? That鈥檚 unbelievable stuff.鈥
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