Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Daniel Chopra's gallant attempt for an eagle on the final hole failed and that let Joost Luiten of the Netherlands win the weather-shortened Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia on Sunday.
Chopra (70) ended at 14-under, one short of Luiten (65) at 15-under.
Shiv Kapur, meanwhile, took a big step towards retaining his European Tour card with a tied 15th after a bogey-free four-under 67 that brought him up to eight-under 204. It also pulled him up to 118th, with the Hong Kong Open yet to come. But there are two other events which will also count - the Alfred Dunhill Championships and the South African Open - where some others can also make a move up.
Jyoti Randhawa shot a three-under 68 and finished six-under 206 for the week and was tied 29th, while Rahil Gangjee (72) and Kunal Bhasin (71) were tied 60th at two-under 211.
Kapur, who shot 71, 68 and 67, said, "The last couple of months have been tough and I have been working really hard on my game. I have mainly been working on my technique and today everything went well. I got four birdies today, which has given me the confidence heading into the last few events of the year."
Chopra, leading by two at the start, was done in by a double bogey on the back nine, but he made a great effort to catch up with Luiten, who overcame a four-shot deficit with a sizzling six-under-par 65 in the USD 2 million event, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, that was reduced to 54 holes due to adverse weather in the last three days.
Chopra narrowly missed his 20-foot eagle putt on the last hole to force a play-off, and settled for second with a final round 70 at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.
Former Asian Tour member Rhys Davies of Wales, title holder Padraig Harrington of Ireland and James Morrison of England finished in tied third, two shots from the champion.
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, a three-time Asian Tour number one, Charlie Wi of Korea, Bangladeshi Siddikur and Shiv Kapur ended their campaigns as the top Asians in tied 15th place.
Luiten, who has six 10-tops this year, turned in 30 highlighted by a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole, before adding another birdie on 11 to win his first European Tour title.
Playing on the second-last flight, Luiten had an agonising wait but revelled in delight when Chopra missed his eagle putt on the last, which would have forced a play-off.
"Well, it is always tough to get your first Tour win and you'll always believe that you'll get a good one. I've come close a few times and I'm really relieved to finally win and am looking for the next one," said the 25-year-old, who won USD 333,330 with a winning total of 15-under-par 198.
Chopra, who held a two-shot lead after play was suspended on Saturday, was disappointed not to recapture the title he had won way back in 1993.
His title hopes looked to have faded after a double bogey on seven, but the two-time PGA Tour winner battled back with three birdies in his closing six holes to finish lone second.
"I was very disappointed because I hit the ball really nicely (the double bogey). It was really the only bad shot I made all day. I had a bad break there but I knew there was a long way to go and if I could get some birdies, I would still have a chance to win. I just tried to stay patient," said Chopra, who grew up in India.
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