Thomas defends CIMB Classic title

KUALA LUMPUR — Justin Thomas fired a final round eight-under-par 64 to overturn a four-shot deficit at the start of the day and successfully defend his CIMB Classic title in Malaysia Sunday. The 23-year-old American capitalized on overnight leader Anirban Lahiri’s quadruple bogey nine on the par-five third hole to retake a lead he had held over the first two days before easing clear to win by three shots with a 23-under total. “This is what you play for, to get into these situations and handle them well, like I did, and it’s just a great start to the year,” Thomas said in a greenside interview after sealing victory in the second event on the 2017 PGA Tour calendar. Lahiri was searching for a maiden PGA Tour win at the TPC Kuala Lumpur course but the five-shot swing after he lodged his tee shot in a tree left the Indian with too much to do and he had to settle for a tie for third, four strokes back. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama birdied the last two holes to sign for a 66 and claim second place on 20-under, with Lahiri (72) and American first round co-leader Derek Fathauer (67) rounding out the top four a further shot adrift. After looking imperious in the first two rounds, Thomas suffered a mid-round meltdown Saturday when he dropped four shots in three holes before a run of five consecutive birdies from the 14th kept him in touch with a surging Lahiri. Australia’s Marc Leishman fired a six-under 66 to finish alone in fifth place on 17-under, one ahead of American Keegan Bradley (68), who wilted on the back nine after climbing into contention going out. Minjee keeps rivals at bay for China win Australia’s Minjee Lee beat back stiff competition from rivals to land her third LPGA victory at the Blue Bay Tournament on China’s Hainan Island Sunday. Lee carded a two-under par 70 to win by one stroke at 13-under par, one ahead of Jessica Korda and two ahead of Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn on the par-72 course. Lee and Korda shared the leaderboard top spot heading into the final round, but the 20-year-old from Perth edged ahead of the American Sunday, firing a birdie at the first hole. At the par-three seventh hole a birdie by Lee and a bogey by Korda extended that lead to three and the Australian closed out the tournament with rounds of 65-67-73-70 for a total of 275. Lee is projected to move up in the Rolex Women’s World golf rankings after her Blue Bay win. Having pocketed the $315,000 first prize, she has almost $2 million in career earnings since turning professional in 2014. Korda can take heart in her performance, carding 67-72-66-71 and a total of 276 for her best finish of 2016, as she prepares for the SIME Darby LPGA in Malaysia where she is defending champion. Jutanugarn posted a final round two-under par 70 to finish third for her 14th top ten finish of the year, including five victories.