Golf

Ahmad Baig of Pakistan lifts the Lexus Challenge 2024 trophy on March 15 in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu. Photos of organisers

VŨNG TÀU — Ahmad Baig successfully won the 2024 Lexus Challenge golf tournament which finished on March 15 in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Province.

Baig struggled in the first two as he placed seventh making the cut at The Bluffs Grand Hồ Tràm course. However, the Pakistani made a big bang with his outstanding performance in the latter rounds which lifted him to the top position.

He impressed with a bogey-free front nine, scoring five birdies in a row that helped him join the leading group.

In the next nine holes, Baig could not maintain his best performance after making a bogey but he came back with two birdies which was enough for him to jump to top spot.

He also set a tournament record as the first golfer to hit seven birdies in the final round.

Baig took the trophy and walked away with a purse of US$14,875 with a result of seven under 206.

Nguyễn Anh Minh of VIệt Nam receives his trophy for the best amateur player.

Jakraphan Premsirigorn of Thailand came second with a five under 208. He took two birdies and ended up with a bogey-free round.

Thai Sangchai Kaewcharoen and South Korean Lion Park shared the third position with same score of four under 209.

Việt Nam had two representatives Nguyễn Anh Minh and Trương Chí Quân in the finale. Despite strong effort, they failed to make the top three.

Minh became the best amateur player of the tournament with a one over 204 result that placed him 18th. The 16-year-old was the only amateur who made the cut this year.

A view of The Bluffs Grand Hồ Tràm course in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Province.

 His senior teammate Quân finished 36th.

The Lexus Challenge was a joint event of the Việt Nam Golf Association Tour and the Asian Development Tour, taking place from March 13-15.

A total of 140 local and international professional and amateur golfers took part in the $85,000 event. VNS