Coles’s last-hole error denies him first title

Chowrasia edged out Coles by one shot in an exciting finish, the Indian shooting a final round of 67 to finish on 15 under par at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Seven birdies in his first 14 holes had put Chowrasia in charge against third-round leader Coles.

Pars on the final two holes then saw Chowrasia set the clubhouse target at 15 under.

With four holes to go Coles was on the same mark and put his approach to eight feet at the 15th.

Coles failed to take that chance and an even easier one on the 17th and was made to pay the price on the last. A second shot into greenside rough put him in a good position but his chip from a downhill lie went 20 feet past the hole. He over-hit the putt which could have landed him the tournament win and an eight foot return was also missed so the chance to force a play-off was gone too.

A closing 68 earned Gregory Havret third on 13 under which left him one shot up on first round leader Robert-Jan Derksen who shot a 69 for fourth.

Hull’s Richard Finch finished 13 shots back of the winner on 286 (68 69 72 77).

A first title on the Ladies European Tour was the reward for Australia’s Kristie Smith after she overhauled Italian Giulia Sergas to win the New Zealand Women’s Open.

Smith’s four-under-par final round of 68 saw her finish with a 12-under total of 276.

Cleckheaton’s Georgina Simpson finished 10 shots worse than the winner (72 70 69 75) and Doncaster’s Rebecca Hudson was another eight shots in arrears after rounds of 74 73 70 77.