Jeev fumbles in final round, tied 21st at Sun Chlorella Classic

Hokkaido, Aug 6 (UNI) Form deserted Jeev Milkha Singh when he needed it most and his worst round of the week saw the Indian finish a hugely disappointing tied 21st in the Sun Chlorella Classic here today.

After rounds of 71 and 70, it was gradual decline for the seasoned Indian who stuttered to a two-over 74 in the penultimate round. Desperately needing a revival in his form in the final round, Jeev again faltered in his back nine and dropped five shots in the final three holes to botch up another top 10 prospect.

The UBS Asian Tour Order of Merit leader finished with a total of two-over 290 and pocketed 1,461,428 yen for his tied 21st finish.

Jeev didn't have the slightest of inklings about the impending debacle as he geared up for his last round. He fired a string of 13 par shots before hitting back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes but, in the end, it proved a false dawn.

Things went horribly wrong soon and Jeev, for the second successive time, double bogeyed the par-four 16th hole, dropped a shot on the 17th and then signed off with another double bogey for a three-over 75.

Hideto Tanihara's level-par round was just enough to ward off a pack of five and lift the title at five-under 283.

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