KUALA LUMPUR — India's Anirban Lahiri secured his breakthrough European Tour title by overhauling Austrian Bernd Wiesberger in a dramatic final round of the Malaysian Open Sunday. Just three months after coming through qualifying school, Lahiri made up five shots on overnight leader Wiesberger before holding his nerve over the last few holes to emerge a winner by a single stroke after carding a four-under-par 68. “I don't think it's sunk in just yet,” said the 27-year-old after finishing 16-under for the tournament. “But I'm pretty sure when it hits home it's going to be a really happy moment for me.” Englishman Paul Waring (73) and Spaniard Alejandro Canizares (74) tied for third on 13-under, while defending champion Lee Westwood returned 75 for a share of fifth. Lahiri, who soared into contention with a third round 62 Saturday, got off to a blistering start at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club by birdying four of his first five holes. Wiesberger also picked up shots at his first two holes and it was only when the Austrian double bogeyed the par-five seventh that the duel was on. Lahiri sank a 40-foot putt at the 17th to grab the outright lead for the first time but Wiesberger birdied the 16th to tie the contest up again. It lasted only one hole before Wiesberger made a mess of his approach shot at the 17th to hand the advantage back to Lahiri. Lahiri said Saturday's round had been crucial to his becoming only the fourth Indian to win a European Tour title and was already calculating his chances of a US Masters debut next year. “The Masters is definitely one of my targets. I don't know how far I'll move up (in rankings), but I'm pretty confident now with this win I should have a pretty good chance,” Lahiri said. Wiesberger's fourth successive top-10 finish put him in the top five on The Race to Dubai, but the 29-year old was left to ruing his closing 74. Three share LPGA lead At Paradise Island, Bahamas, South Korea's Park In-bee, fighting to reclaim world No. 1 after being overtaken by Lydia Ko, finished off a three-under par 70 Saturday to share the Bahamas LPGA Classic lead. Park was among 60 players forced to finish their second round Saturday morning after heavy rain for Thursday's opening round disrupted the schedule. New Zealand's Ko became the youngest world No. 1 in golf history at age 17 by sharing second at last week's LPGA season opener in Orlando, but Park is hot on her heels and could recapture the top spot this week. Park opened and closed her back nine with birdies to grab a share of the lead on eight-under 138 alongside compatriot Kim Sei-young, who finished a round of 68 Saturday, and American Brooke Pancake, who birdied three of the last five holes to grab a share of the lead. Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn was only one stroke off the pace in a share of fourth along with Germany's Sandra Gal, American Gerina Piller and Yoo Sun-young. Ko closed a round of 71 with a birdie to stand on 143, sharing 27th five strokes adrift. — Agencies
