Chikka, Sharma end at T20, T30; Hend completes dramatic win

Shubhankar Sharma failed to defend his title at the Maybank Championships but his final round of two-under 70 that saw him finish T-30 will give him a boost ahead of the Hero Indian Open beginning in New Delhi on Thursday.

Shubhankar aggregated five-under 283 but the best-placed Indian this week was S Chikkarangappa, whose final round of three-under 69 placed him T-20 at seven-under 281.

It was his second successive Top-20 finish on the European Tour after last week's T-17 in Kenya.

Among other Indians, SSP Chawrasia (72 and 3-under 285), twice- winner of Hero Indian Open in last three years, finished T-41, while Viraj Madappa (74 and 2-under 286) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (68 and two-under 286) were T-48. Ajeetesh Sandhu (74 and two-over 290) was T-66.

Scott Hend, whose last win in True Thailand Classic came more than two years ago, also made up for his missed cut at the event last, by winning the Maybank Championships in a dramatic fashion.

He played the final round in five-under 67 and a total of 15-under 273. But he took a dramatic route, as play was first suspended due to lightning when the final group was on the 18th green.

Spaniard Nacho Elvira holed a 30-footer for birdie to tie the Australian at 15-under.

In the first play-off hole Hend found a tree with his tee shot and then again the second shot hit another tree and went into the greenside bunker, from where he made a remarkable third shot to within three feet of the pin and holed it for birdie.

Elvira was unable to match it and was second in two successive starts following his runner-up finish in Qatar.

Hend held a slender one-shot lead heading into the final hole but late drama ensued when a clap of thunder disrupted Elvira's approach into the 18th green.

The skies opened soon after leaving officials with no choice but to suspend the play at 2.49pm (local time).

Play resumed at 4.30pm and Elvira drained a monstrous 30-feet birdie putt to force a play-off with Hend, which the latter won despite hitting two trees.

Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond enjoyed yet another top-10 finish by closing with a 69 to take third place while Johannes Veerman of the United States bettered his previous best result of 12th position in 2017 by signing off with a 66 to finish in fourth place.