Ghei wins Mercuries Masters

Taipei:

India's Gaurav Ghei played a superb final round of six-under 66 to win the $500,000 Mercuries Masters golf tournament. His compatriot and overnight leader Rahil Gangjee had to be content with the second spot. Ghei, who won his only Asian Tour title way back in 1995 at the Gadgil Western Masters, rallied from a four-shot deficit to total 10-under 278. He was one shot clear of Gangjee (72) who led overnight at eight-under 280 at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club. Ted Oh was third at six-under. The clock seemed to have turned back for Ghei as the last time when he won in 1995. It was once again a half a million dollar event, which he won with an eagle on 72nd hole. Played calmly Ghei, sixth overnight, played calmly and parred the final hole to set the target. Gangjee needed birdies in his last two holes but managed only one on 18th to finish one shot behind. It was a case of so near and yet to so far for Gangjee, who has been in great form. He was third at Brunei Open and then again third last week in Korea and now second. "I have played this course so many times in last 10 years and I know it very well. In fact I reached here only on Tuesday with Shiv Kapur and played a practice round on Wednesday but I was comfortable," said Ghei. Ghei also gets an entry into the coveted HSBC Champions in Shanghai in November, for which all winners on Asian Tour qualify. He is the third Indian to get in for that after Shiv Kapur, winner of Volvo Masters of Asia in December 2005, and Jeev Milkha Singh, winner of the Volvo China Open in April this year. (PTI)