JOHOR BAHRU, November 20, 2011 (AFP) - Rising star Joost Luiten of Holland overcame a four-shot deficit to win the weather-shortened Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia on Sunday.
Luiten shot a sizzling six-under-par 65 final round to defeat Daniel Chopra of Sweden by one shot overall in the US$2 million Asian Tour and European Tour sanctioned event, which was reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather.
Chopra narrowly missed a two-foot eagle putt on the last hole to force a play-off, and had to settle for second with a final round 70 at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.
Rhys Davies of Wales, Padraig Harrington of Ireland and James Morrison of England finished in third, two shots off the lead.
Luiten's round included a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole and gave him an overall total of 15-under 198 to win his first European Tour title.
"Well it is always tough to get your first Tour win," said the 25-year-old, who takes home US$333,330.
"I've come close for a few times and I'm really relieved to finally win and looking for the next one.
"I knew at the beginning of the week that it will be raining season here so it didn't really bother me. You just need to relax when the delay comes and accept it."
Chopra, who held a two-shot lead after play was suspended yesterday, was disappointed not to recapture the title he won back in 1993.
He made a double bogey on the seventh but battled back with three birdies in his closing six holes to finish second.
"It was really the only bad shot I made all day," he said of the double bogey.
"I had a bad break there but I knew there was a long way to go and if I could get some birdies, I would still have a chance to win."
Scores Sunday after the third and final round of the Iskandar Johor Open at the par 71 Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club course:
198 - Joost Luiten (NED) 63-70-65
199 - Daniel Chopra (SWE) 64-65-70
200 - Rhys Davies (WAL) 70-65-65, James Morrison (ENG) 66-65-69, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 64-67-69
201 - Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 64-67-70
202 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 71-64-67
203 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 69-67-67, Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE) 68-67-68, Darren Beck (AUS) 70-65-68, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 64-70-69, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 67-67-69