analysis Scot keeps his head after scorecard error while young Borderer makes title history
Stephen Gallacher continues his chase for a second European Tour win, this time claiming the runner-up spot in the Maybank Malaysian Open.
On the final day of the weather-disrupted event in Kuala Lumpur, the 37-year-old Scot managed to keep his composure after signing for a wrong score to close with a two-under 70 for a 14-under 274, leaving him three strokes behind South Africa's former Open champion, Louis Oosthuizen.
Second at the Masters and third in the Houston Open the week before, Oosthuizen, who has travelled 10,000 miles in that time, finally turned his recent form into a win with a 68 for 271.
Gallacher, meanwhile, is highly satisfied with his second runner-up finish of the campaign despite the scorecard error. Having returned to the course yesterday morning to complete his third round, the Bathgate man signed for a score one shot higher than it was.
"I thought I signed it properly, I signed for a 69 when I shot a 68," explained Gallacher, who put down a 4 instead of a birdie 3. "I only found out when I was at the first tee. I thought I was tied for the lead, and then was one behind, but luckily it didn't affect me that much. It's one of those things that you learn. It didn't cost me much.
"I'm pleased. I only had a couple of bogeys throughout the whole week and even threw in a shot which wasn't there. I kept my head though, and I'm quite proud of myself for that."
Since winning his only tour title, the Dunhill Links Championship in 2004, Gallacher has racked up five top-three finishes and he will head to this week's Volvo China Open full of confidence.
Oosthuizen, beaten to the green jacket by Bubba Watson in a play-off at Augusta, defied both the psychological fatigue of that disappointment and the physical tiredness of a 30-hour trek to the Far East to claim his second European Tour win of the season.
The 29-year-old staved off Gallacher's challenge with a closing four-under round to secure the £261,727 first prize.The South African had turned in two-under to keep his nose in front but Gallacher was still hovering menacingly after picking up birdies at the fifth and 10th. Oosthuizen upped the ante on the home stretch, though. He birdied the 13th and, having almost plunged his drive into the water on 16, the 2010 Claret Jug winner took advantage of that let-off by knocking a wedge to two feet for a decisive birdie.
"It was a long journey to get here and I didn't expect to play this well because of the tiredness," he said. "To win means a lot because I have been playing well for the last few weeks now."
Elsewhere, David Drysdale signed off with a 71 for 286 to finish in a share of 40th, while Alastair Forsyth, the Malaysian Open champion in 2002, sagged to a 79, slithering down the order with a 292.
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