Golf: Aditi notches up her second top-10 finish

The tournament, cut short to 36 holes because of rain and weather, had Aditi setting the clubhouse target as she played her second and final round in 5-under 66 to finish at 7-under 135. The event was shortened to 36 holes due to severe weather on Thursday and Friday. 

This was Aditi's second top-10 in a row after her Tied-seventh at LPGA Mediheal last week. Before that her two best finishes this season were T-14 at Kia Classic and T-19 at Hugel-JTBC La Open.

Later in the evening, Sung Hyun Park showed why she is one of the stars to watch this season as she went on to win the tournament by coming good in clutch situations.

Aditi, who shot 69 in the first round also played 14 more holes of her second round on Saturday itself for a total of 32 holes. On Sunday she played her four holes with one birdie and on Par-5 15th and three pars to finish the round in 66.

Aditi's 7-under target came over two hours before Park began so she knew exactly what was needed to capture her third career LPGA win. Her first big step was a long chip in from just off the green at fourth for eagle to jump into a share of the lead. The second was her last shot of the day, when she was on 10-under. Park chipped in for birdie from right of the green to finish at 11-under.

Park's short game was magnificent this week as she took 24 putts in round one and 28 in round two. Lindy Duncan finished birdie-birdie-birdie about 45minutes after Park had finished to post 10-under. The chip-in turned out to be the shot that won Park the tournament.

Bhullar back in the spotlight

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar compiled a four-day total of one-under-par 283 to get into a play-off with Yikeun Chang, Junggon Hwang and Sanghyun Park but was edged out after the first extra hole, which saw him finish joint second at the challenging Nam Seoul Country Club here.

The 30-year-old Indian was one of only four golfers in the field to break par and is happy with his game that led to his highest finish in 2018 so far.

“I gave my 100 per cent and I played really well, especially the last 36 holes. I was steady and gave myself plenty of opportunities in the final round,” Bhullar said in a statement.

Bhullar made history last year by becoming the youngest ever golfer to win eight titles on the Asian Tour. He achieved the feat with a stunning wire-to-wire victory in Macau last year.

Earlier in 2018, Bhullar missed the cut at three consecutive tournaments following the Maybank Championship but has bounced back magnificently with a steely display in South Korea.

Following the 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship, Bhullar earned a prize cheque of $75,473.35 to ascend 19 places to 10th on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.

The leading three places on the Habitat for Humanity Standings remain unchanged. Shubhankar Sharma of India stayed on top with his current earnings of $589,575. Englishman Matt Wallace ($446,660) is second, while Indian Rahil Gangjee ($283,018.87) is in third place.

The Asian Tour will travel to Bangladesh this week for the $300,000 AB Bank Bangladesh Open to be played at the Kurmitola Golf Club.