Strong finish gives Jeev 8th place

Jeev Milkha Singh found his touch late, putted three birdies in last four holes, to finish tied 8th at the US $120 Million Acom International at the Ishikoka Golf Club in Ibaraki, Japan, on Sunday.

The Indian ace's final round of two-under 69 saw him finish eight-under 276 and six shots behind winner Mamo Osanai, who had to go through a play-off to beat Taichi Teshima for the title.

It was Jeev's eighth top-10 finish in 12 starts in Japan and once again underlined his awesome form this season. He has 13 top-10s on three tours this year.

Mamo Osanai (68), who seemed to be running away with the title as he held a five-shot lead at midway stage of the tournament, had to go through a play-off before winning the title over Taichi Teshima, whose final 63 set the clubhouse target for Osanai. It was Osanai's third career title on the Japan Tour.

Jeev, starting the day at seven-under and in tied sixth place, began with three pars and bogeyed the fourth as his putts just did not fall.

He hung on needing birdies, he kept falling off the pace. Then towards the end, the touch returned as he had a series of single putts on the greens and birdied 15th, 16th and 18th to come to two-under and inside top-10 yet again.

"I am not complaining with this hatful of top-10 finishes, but I seriously feel I could have converted a couple of them. But still to be in contention and be up there in top-10 week after week indicates I am in good form. I am playing well and, hopefully, it will carry on," said Jeev, who is now 14th on Japan Tour Money List.

Jeev needs to get into top 10 to earn a straight passage into the final stage of the US Tour.

"I need to be more consistent with my putting. I needed 30 today and on some other days even more."

Jeev is already leading UBS Asian Tour Money List and is 46th on European Tour.

Teshima finished the day with a bogey-free eight-under 63 and moved to 14-under as Prayad Marksaeng (67) second overnight was unable to keep up pace.

Marksaeng needed two birdies in last two holes to catch up Teshima, while Osanai needed one birdie to send the tournament into play-off and two to win outright.

Marksaeng managed just one birdie on 18 th and Osanai did the same to get to 14-under 270 but got into a play-off, which he won. Teshima was second and Marksaeng third at 13-under 271.

Katsumune Imai (66) and overnight tied second Ryuichi Oda (69) were tied fourth, while Paul Sheehan (65) and Katsuyoshi Tomori (68) were tied sixth.

Jeev shared the eighth place with SK Ho (69) and Yoshikazu Haku (70).