Jamie Donaldson, in Abu Dhabi, on SundayAbu Dhabi: SSP Chowrasia dropped back-to-back bogeys on the eighth and ninth holes to miss out on a chance of finishing in the top 10 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, here, on Sunday.
Chowrasia, tied 13th at the end of the third round, finished with a round of two-under 70 and a total of seven-under 281 in tied 17th place.
On a crowded leaderboard, Chowrasia was just one shot behind a bunch of eight players in tied ninth place at eight-under.
At the top, Jamie Donaldson collected his second European Tour title in dramatic fashion, after seeing Justin Rose hold the lead in second and third rounds.
Donaldson, who already has a berth into the Masters after being in top-50 at the end of 2012, went two clear with five birdies in his first 17 holes, but made a mess of the par five last and bogeyed.
That bogey meant overnight leader Rose and Dane Thorbjørn Olesen in the final group needed a birdie at the 18th to force a play-off, but Olesen’s 15 foot effort slid by before world No. 5 Rose slipped out from eight feet.
Chowrasia looked set for a fine finish as he birdied first, second and seventh. But bogeys on eighth and ninth messed his round. He birdied the 10th and 15th to make up, but the bogey on 16th meant he stayed out of top 10.
“I am happy with the way I played overall this week. Of course the third round was the highlight, but generally the confidence is returning. I still have a slight problem with my wrist, but I am able to handle it well. This finish gives me a good feel at the start of the season and I am looking forward to Qatar and Dubai,” Chowrasia said.
Thongchai Jaidee (73) and Jbe Kruger (70), who like Chowrasia, also play on Asian Tour, were tied for ninth.
The winner Donaldson was ecstatic. “It’s pretty surreal really. I’ve played really good all week although I’ve got away with murder up the last,” he said.
“I thought one of them would hole if not both. But, when both putts slipped by, it was my week. I was very happy when I stood here holding the trophy.”
Donaldson’s victory at the Irish Open last year was his first in 255 European Tour events, but it has taken him only 14 starts to double his trophy haul.
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