Jyoti Randhawa (File photo: AFP)

Kuala Lumpur : India’s Jyoti Randhawa finished second behind Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee at the Carlsberg Malaysiangolf tournament here on Feb. 20.

The 32-year-old Delhi based golfer finished with a four-day total of 17 under par 270 with a final round of five under par to take home 72,000 pounds ($137,314).

Swede Henrik Stenson finished third with a 16 under par 271 followed by his countryman Niclas Fasth who returned a card of 276. Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez tied with Thai Prom Meesawat for the fifth place with identical scores of 277.

A charged up Randhawa did better than champion Jaidee over the final two rounds, but still could not overhaul his lead at the Saujana Golf Resort. Jaidee returned with a total of 21 under 267 with a last round score of 2 under par 70 to retain the title. The former army paratrooper turned golfer also beat Randhawa to last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.

The Malaysian co-sanctioned with the European PGA Tour saw some of the world’s top golfers teeing off, including 11th ranked Irishman Padraig Harrington, who finished eighth.

Randhawa’s performance is another feather in the cap for one the fastest growing games in India.

Playing in the same group with Jaidee, the Indian was four under for the day through the 13th but messed up a 10-foot birdie attempt that helped the Thai player keep his three shot lead and the title.

Jaidee started the day with a six shot cushion that Randhawa cut down to just two. The Thai however, birdied the par three 16th to kill his challenger’s hope and seal victory.