The Indian duo of Shiv Kapur and Rahil Gangjee came tantalisingly close to qualifying for the British Open only to fall two shots shy at the Sentosa Golf Club's Tanjong Course in Singapore on Wednesday.
It was a case of so near and yet so far for the Indians, who ended up at five-under 139 for 36 holes. The cut-off line for the five berths came at seven-under in the International Final Qualifying for the Open.
Australia's Adam Groom topped the list of five qualifiers. Others making the grade were Lan Chih Bing (70, 66), Ross Bain (72, 74), David Gleeson (68, 68) and Lee Won Joon 67, 70).
Lee beat Park Woon Jon of Korea in a play-off for the last berth.
Kapur was done in by a double bogey and a short putt on the fourth hole. Gangjee, the overnight co-leader, could not recapture the same form and ended with a 73 that eliminated him. He also had a bogey on 17th.
Lam Chih-bing emerged as the second-ever Singaporean to qualify for the Open Championship.
The Australian trio of Adam Groom, David Gleeson and Lee Won-joon together, with Scotsman Ross Bain, also booked their tickets for the Open Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland in July.
Lam blasted a six-under 66 in the second round for a total of eight-under 136 as he ended his campaign a stroke behind top finisher Groom.
Lam will follow in the footsteps of compatriot Mardan Mamat who emerged as the first Singaporean to make it to the Open Championship back in 1997.
"This is simply great. It's going to be like a double honeymoon for me as I'm getting married in June," said Lam.
After a 69, the 28-year-old Groom, playing in his second straight qualifier, was delighted with his final round performance that included four birdies on the back nine.
Scotland's Bain blasted a 64 to seal his place at the Open Championship while Gleeson scored his second straight 68 and made it through after his ninth attempt at the qualifier.
Among the Indians, Kapur and Gangjee shared the eighth spot, while Gaurav Ghei (70, 70) and Arjun Singh (71, 69) were tied 16th. Amandeep Johl (73, 69) finished tied 27th and way down the ladder were Digvijay Singh (67, 76), Vivek Bhandari (72, 75), Gurbaaz Mann (73, 75) and Harmeet Kahlon (76, 77).
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