Liang clinches Indian Open title with late birdies

text size

NEW DELHI (AP) -- Liang Wen-chong of China overcame his nerves to shoot birdies on the last two holes Sunday to finish one stroke ahead of Australian Darren Beck and clinch the Asian Tour's $1 million Hero Honda Indian Open.

Liang, 30, who shot a course-record 12-under 60 in the first round, scored a 2-under par 70 in Sunday's final round to finish 16-under par 272 for the four rounds, one stroke ahead of Beck.

South Africa-born Beck also sank a birdie on the 18th hole to finish 15-under par after a fine final round in which he shot a 7-under par 65.

Liang appeared nervous when he dropped three strokes on the back nine, following up his bogey on the 14th with a double-bogey on the 15th, but steadied himself to shoot birdies on the final two holes.

Having finished his bogey-free round, Beck watched from the 18th green as Liang reclaimed the lead that he had enjoyed throughout the tournament.

"The double bogey on the 15th hole made me very nervous, I'd even made a wrong club selection there," said Liang, the first Chinese player to became Asia No. 1 when he topped the continental tour's order of merit.

"I then decided to play aggressively and that made the difference over the final two holes," he said.

Liang's title triumph -- his second win on the Asian Tour -- earned him $158,500. His only previous Asian Tour victory was at last year's Singapore Masters, which he clinched in a playoff.

Adam Blyth of Australia finished third (275), edging ahead of India's Jeev Milkha Singh (276) with a birdie on the final hole.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.