Golf-Asian Tour rookie Muniyappa wins Indian Open playoff

NEW DELHI, Oct 11 (Reuters) - India’s Chinaswamy Muniyappa birdied the first playoff hole against South Korea’s Lee Sung to win the $1.25 million Indian Open Asian Tour event on Sunday.

The Asian Tour rookie dropped a two-shot lead after bogeying two of the last five holes for a two-under 70 while Lee (69) birdied the 18th hole to tie scores at 12-under 276.

Muniyappa, who held a one shot overnight lead, held his nerve in the playoff on the par five 18th and sank a 10-foot birdie putt to seal victory in the richest full-field Asian Tour event at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Lee, seeking only his second Asian Tour win, recovered after finding the bunker with his tee shot only to miss a 13-foot birdie putt, to be pushed to second.

Australia’s Marcus Both, Kwanchai Tannin of Thailand and India’s Anirban Lahiri, who produced a sizzling final round eight-under 64, finished tied third with 10-under 278s.

New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, the 2005 U.S. Open winner on a comeback after last year’s shoulder injury, went 12-over 84 on the final day to finish 70th and last.

(Reporting by N.Ananthanarayanan, editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)