Himmat falters in final round, ends fifth in Impian Classic

Himmat Rai faltered in the final round with a three-over 75 and slipped to tied fifth even as American Jonathan Moore won the PGM-ADT-CCM Impian Classic here today by three shots.

Filipino Artemio Murakami, who was leading by three at the turn, went out of bounds on 10th and then fell back gradually and ended second.

Moore, 26, shot a closing five-under 67 to bag his first victory on the Asian Development Tour with a winning total of 22-under 266 at the Impian Golf and Country Club.

Rai was disappointed to falter at the final hurdle after leading for the opening three rounds. "I started off terribly. I was quite shocked after the first couple of holes as I didn't do much wrong. I drew a bad lie on the second hole when I lost it right and it ended on the face of the bunker. My attempt to get out hit the wall and I drew a bad lie again," said the 23-year-old Indian.

"It was still a good experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm playing well and I'm looking forward to next week and the rest of the year. Obviously I'm disappointed now but I think I have many more opportunities to come," he added.

Murakami settled for the second spot after signing for a final round 69 in the approximately US$67,000 event.

Chinese Taipei's Chang Tse-peng finished third, four behind the winner, after a 66 while Ben Leong was Malaysia's best finisher at tied fifth place on 274 alongside Himmat.

Moore, a former US Walker Cup team member, delivered the knockout blows with three straight birdies from the 13th hole as he celebrated his first title in Asia.