Indian veteran Rahil Gangee certainly lived up to his billing as one of the star attractions at the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam this week, firing a string of birdies in the closing stretch to post the clubhouse lead and endure an anxious wait to see if he’d done enough to win.

His par on the 18th for a three under 70 (209) was enough to edge out overnight leader Aidric Jose Chan, who needed to par to force a playoff. The young Filipino golfer, who was not even born when Gangee first joined the professional golf ranks, could only manage bogey at the last and saw his chance of a debut win slip away.

India’s Aman Raj (70), one of the strong Indian cohort taking part at the event, shared second place (210) with Chan (74) in the US$100,000 Asian Development Tour event at the Legend Da Nang Golf Club on the Nicklaus Course.

Aidric Jose Chan of the Philippines pictured in action at the BRG Open Golf Championship 2024 in Vietnam. The US$100,000 Asian Development Tour event is being held at the Legend Da Nang Golf resort, Nicklaus Course, from August 29-31, 2024. Picture courtesy of Danang Fantasity.

In fourth spot (211) was American Sydney Chung (74), who was unable to capitalise on two fine early rounds, followed by Singapore’s James Leow who posted the low round of the day with 66, enough to move him from 32nd spot overnight to a solo fifth place (213).

“It’s been a gruelling day,” said Gangee after his win, “not because of the golf but because of the heat. It’s been a little bit tough also in the golf. It was a little bit dilly dally in the front nine – even par – I only got it going towards the back especially in the last four holes.

“I was looking to birdie the last hole but that didn’t happen, but I still had a chance to make it,” he added, his optimism fuelled by the fact that he had already won once on the ADT this year, having secured victory at the PKNS Selangor Masters in June. His victory in Vietnam puts him atop the ADT Order of Merit, ahead of Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig.

“This one has to be for my wife,” said Gangee. “She saw me through today. I was a little bit headless in the front nine, a little bit despondent, but she got me through the day today, just really grateful for her to be around on the bag.”

Sydney Chung of the USA pictured in action at the BRG Open Golf Championship 2024 in Vietnam. The US$100,000 Asian Development Tour event is being held at the Legend Da Nang Golf resort, Nicklaus Course, from August 29-31, 2024. Picture courtesy of Danang Fantasity.

Asked after the second round about how he felt being billed as one of the star attractions in the promotional materials for the event, he was surprised yet grateful at being selected as one of the featured players.

“It means the world to me,” he said after posting a -6 yesterday. “How many times does a guy get his face on a poster? It’s great to see my face all over the place, all over town, all over the golf course, at the airport,” he laughed. “So I’m really stoked about that, thanks for that.”

Finishing in sixth place, on five under par (214), were the Thai trio of Sarut Vongchaisit (68), Nopparat Panichphol (71) and Runchanapong Youprayong (73), together with Arjun Sharma of India (69) and Baig (75).

In 11th spot on 215 were Vietnamese amateur Nguyen Tuan Anh (70), Ayoub Lgurati (68) of Morocco, Thailand’s Sarun Sirithon (72) and Jakraphan Premsirigorn (72) and Sean Ramos of the Philippines (67).

The BRG Open Golf Championship was the seventh of 12 ADT events scheduled for 2024, and the tour continues in Indonesia next month, at the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura at the Gunung Geulis Country Club from September 11-13.

Main picture: India’s Rahil Gangee and his wife and caddie Ruhi pictured in action at the BRG Open Golf Championship 2024 in Vietnam. The US$100,000 Asian Development Tour event is being held at the Legend Da Nang Golf resort, Nicklaus Course, from August 29-31, 2024. Picture courtesy of Danang Fantasity.