Talwar takes T11 finish at Saudi Open as Asian Tour season ends

Bjorn Hellgren of Sweden with his Saudi Open trophy at the Dirab Golf & Country Club near Riyadh on Saturday. Image courtesy of Asian Tour.

By Rahul Banerji

Saptak Talwar, who set a course record in the opening round, finished strongly to tie for 11th at the Saudi Open presented by PIF on Saturday.

The Delhi golfer had rounds of 64, 71, 73 and 68 for a total of 13 under par 275, while Khalin Joshi (68-70-70-71) was the other Indian to make the cut, sharing 34th place at 9 under 279.

At the top, Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren survived a stiff challenge from Australian Jack Thompson at the Dirab Golf & Country Club near Riyadh for his first Asian Tour title.

The two were grouped together during the end of the season and were locked in battle over the final 36 holes before the Swede prevailed by a single stroke, at 23 under 265 to Thompson’s 266.

On Saturday, Talwar dropped a shot early but then had five birdies, including one on the 18th, to bounce back well from a third day (1 over 73).

Ranked 155th on the Order of Merit, Talwar will have to go through Qualifying School next year to earn Asian playing rights. The top 65 in the OoM retain tickets for next season.

Lonely exception

Gaganjeet Bhullar was the only Indian to retain his Asian Tour card at 52nd position and he will be joined by Karandep Kochhar who qualified with a fifth-place finish on the Asian Development Tour.

Hellgren (66-65-67-67) and Thompson (65-65-68-68) tied for the lead on Saturday, but in the end it was the former who prevailed by the narrowest of margins.

The title was effectively decided on the final hole, where Thompson had a chance to equal the lead, but both players birdied to leave Hellgren as the winner, the Asian Tour said.

Malaysians Ervin Chang and Charles Porter of the US reached third three shots behind Thompson, while the former climbed from 75th to 41st on the Order of Merit.

The other big winner was Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit title and finished seventh, well ahead of Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent.

Hellgren arrived in Asia in 2020 with a resume that includes multiple victories in Scandinavia as an amateur and professional. He also stayed with Brooks Koepka while playing college golf at Florida State University.

Breakthrough result

“Super happy,” said the Swede. “I mean, finally. I’m not going to say I doubted myself, but I’ve officiated tournaments before in the last five years and never managed it before.

“I couldn’t have done it without Graham, my caddy. He kept me calm and present especially today. So I’m very proud of myself, my team and especially my family, who keep pushing me.”

Thompson traveled to Riyadh to ensure he retained his card for next year as he placed 62nd on the Merit and ultimately finished in 21st place.

The other players who remained in the top 65 were Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao (60th), Philippines’ Justin Quiban (61st), Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (62nd) and Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit (64th).

Baig made it a particularly memorable day by playing the par-3 seventh hole.

Also read: Saptak Talwar fires course record for lead on Saudi Open day one

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