Im Sung-jae settles for runner-up after rival's eagle on final hole

Im Sung-jae finished runner-up at the Asian Tour's SJM Macau Open ($1 million purse) after losing a playoff, denied a first Asian Tour title when his opponent made eagle on the final hole of regulation to force extra holes.

Im carded a 3-under-par 67 in Sunday's final round at Macau Golf and Country Club (par 70), posting six birdies against three bogeys. His 72-hole total of 17-under 263 drew level with Wang Wei-hsuan of Taiwan, but Im fell at the first playoff hole and had to settle for second place.

Im had shared the lead after a 6-under 64 in the opening round, then seized sole possession of first place with a 7-under 63 in the second round. He trimmed one more stroke in the third round to remain tied at the top with Wang.

The final round produced a tense head-to-head battle between the two co-leaders, who were grouped together. Im held the outright lead through the 15th hole before a bogey at the par-4 16th allowed Wang to draw level. He reclaimed a one-stroke advantage with a birdie at the par-3 17th, and another birdie at the par-5 18th appeared to put the title within reach — until Wang holed out for eagle to pull even at 17 under and send the contest to a playoff.

Wang ended it immediately, making birdie on the first extra hole. Im will have to wait for his first Asian Tour victory.

For Wang, the victory erased the memory of a near-miss at the same event last year, when he lost in a playoff to Dominic Foos of Germany. This time he prevailed in extra holes to claim the title. Wang took home the winner's check of $180,000, while Im earned $110,000 as runner-up.

Charles Porter of the United States fired a final-round 9-under 61 to finish third at 14-under 266. Austin Truslow, also of the United States, was fourth at 13-under 267, while Wu Ashun of China and Danthai Boonma of Thailand shared fifth at 12-under 268.

Im, who tied for seventh at this event last year, secured a top-10 finish for the second consecutive year with his runner-up result.

Im will next tee it up at the Genesis Championship, a co-sanctioned DP World Tour and KPGA Tour event opening Thursday at Ujeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.