SINGAPORE, April 8, 2012 (AFP) - Australia's Scott Hend closed with a six-under-par 64 to win the weather-shortened ISPS Handa Singapore Classic on Sunday, but admitted it had been a nerve-wracking experience.
The $400,000 full-field Asian Tour event was reduced to 54 holes after inclement weather caused almost 10 hours of play to be lost over the first three days.
Sri Lanka's Mithun Perera, Lu Wei-chih of Taiwan, Spain's Javi Colomo and David Lipsky of the United States were bunched in tied second on matching 200s at Orchid Country Club.
"It's amazing, especially to have four weeks off and come back and win. It's great to see some of the hard work and practice that I've put in paying off," Hend told the Asian Tour.
But he had to wait for close to an hour before he knew he had secured his second Asian Tour title with a winning total of 11-under-par 199.
As many as three players were still in contention for either a play-off or win after Hend had signed for his score.
"It's sort of like you're going out and have to wait for your wife to do her hair or something. You're just sitting around and pacing around and that was what I was feeling then," said the big-hitting Hend.
"I just wanted it to be over and know whether I've won or not. Luckily for me, I won."
Perera was almost lost for words after he signed off with a flawless 65 for his best finish on the Asian Tour.
The unheralded Sri Lankan, who managed to play through an invite spot this week, said: "I'm really happy about the week as I played really good golf.
Scores after round 3 of the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic at the par 70 Orchid Country Club course:
199 - Scott Hend (AUS) 67-68-64
200 - Mithun Perera (SRI) 67-68-65, Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 65-69-66, Javi Colomo (ESP) 67-66-67, David Lipsky (USA) 63-69-68
201 - Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 68-69-64, Hwang Inn-Choon (KOR) 69-67-65, Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 69-66-66, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 61-71-69
202 - Adam Groom (AUS) 69-68-65, Kieran Pratt (AUS) 67-66-69, Ben Fox (USA) 67-66-69