G

aganjeet Bhullar from India won his first Asian Tour title by closing the Indonesia President Invitational golf tournament on Sunday with an overall 22-under 266.

Bhullar, who turned professional in 2006, shot 5-under 67 at the Sunday final round, thus collecting a total of 22 under throughout the four-day tournament at Damai Indah Golf-Bumi Serpong Damai Course in Tangerang.

In Saturday's third round, the 21-year-old fired a magnificent 10-under par 62, which matched a 1995 Asian Tour tourney record made at the same course by Paul Friedlander of Swaziland.

"I have no words to describe. I'm so happy right now," said Bhullar, who pocketed a total of US$63,400 prize money after receiving the President's trophy from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"I had the ball really well throughout the week. Before coming here, I played the British Open last week, which . helped me a lot this week," said Bhullar, who qualified for his maiden major at the British Open after finishing in the top four of the International Final Qualifying in Singapore.

The triumph was a form of revenge for the talented Bhullar,who in the same event two years ago, was beaten by one stroke by Pilipino Juvic Pagunsan's birdie, eagle finish.

This year, Pagunsan collected an overall of 9-under par 279 and finished in 25-ties, while defending champion Scott Hend of Australia finished in 10-ties with 14-under par 274.

Bhullar, who five years ago played for the first time in Indonesia in the Asia Pacific Junior Championship, was optimistic to snatch his first title in the European Tour soon. "I know how hard I had worked to win my first Asian Tour professional title. I'm ready to work harder to win my first European Tour title."

Meanwhile, Australian Adam Blyth snatched the runner-up title as he shot a total of 20-under par 268. Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand trailed in third with 19-under par 269.

Although unable to get into the top 25 as he personally targeted, Indonesian amateur golfer Benny Kasiadi, 21, was still crowned for the second time as the best amateur with a total of 4-under par 284. Similar to his best amateur debut in 2007, when he finished in the top 50 with 2-under overall, this year, Benny also stood in the top 51-ties.

"I'm not really satisfied with my performance today, as I got 1-over par 73. I will work to fix my second shot," said Benny, who is eager to turn professional by January next year.

Local professional golfer, Burhan Bora, made an unexpected finish in the top 35-ties, with 8-under par 280. Bora, who in the first round made a double bogey of 74 strokes, managed to shoot a consistent 4-under in the second and third rounds, as well as 2-under in the last round.

"I just tried my best to perform better every day. I consider myself lucky," Bora said.

Another local professional golfer, S. Sanusi, who ranked in the top 64-ties with an overall of 1-over par 289, was the last of the three Indonesian golfers making the cut out of a total of 20 local pro golfers, and 10 local amateurs.

The chairman of the Indonesian Amateur Golf Association (PGI), Jero Wacik, promised to reward local golfers who made it through the cut-off round, however he declined to elaborate.