Ghei blows away chance of top-ten finish; tied 25th

Sanya, China, Mar 18 (UNI) Gaurav Ghei and big-hitting Thai talent Chipchai Nirat shot identical cards of one-under 71 in the final round today, but while the Indian finished tied 25th, Nirat held his nerve to claim his maiden Asian and European tour title at the million-dollar TCL Classic.

The lone Indain left in the fary, Ghei failed to capitalise on his four-under 68 performance in the penultimate round yesterday to end up with an aggregate of ten-under 278, a huge 12 strokes behind Nirat.

Ghei fired in three birdies but spoilt the show with two bogies in breezy conditions at the Yalong Bay Golf Club.

At the top, Argentine Rafael Echenique finished three shots behind Nirat with a 19-under 269 while another Thai Prayad Marksaeng carded seven birdies -- five on the front nine -- but a couple of bogeys dropped him to a 67 to put him third in the leaderboard.

UNI