Intro:

Anirban Lahiri of India led four golfers securing places at the (British) Open in a qualifying tournament at the Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday.

Lahiri overcame rain during his final round for a 67 and 9-under 135 to win the Open Championship International Final Qualifying.

He will be joined at Royal Lytham on July 19-22 by Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, Kodai Ichihara of Japan and Mardan Mamat of Singapore.

Script:

Thailand's own, Prayad Marksaeng, was one of the first out of the blocks on Day 2 of Open Championship International Final Qualifying in Bangkok on Friday.

Following a first round 73, 1 over par, he wasted no time improving on this. Five birdies on the front nine alone saw him on his way to carding a second round 63, and finish on a total of -7 leaving him an anxious wait in the clubhouse.

One man who looked promising from the start was Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who had gained entry to the event thanks to his successful defence of the 2011 Asian Amateur Championship. His day started well as he birdied six of the opening nine holes.

Anirban Lahiri too was in good form. His accuracy around the greens helped him to save par here at the 8th hole.

Sharing the overnight lead with Lahiri was the American, Jonathan Moore. Having won the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit last year, he was determined to stay in the hunt.

Singapore's Lam Chih-Bing was one of the qualifiers here last year and keen to book his place once again. A missed birdie opportunity at the last, however, left him frustrated, and in the clubhouse on 4 under par.

Lam's fellow countryman and World Cup teammate, Mardan Mamat, was a man in-form. Having recently secured his third win on the Asian Tour, this closing birdie saw him also finish on four under.

With just two groups left on the course, the heavens opened and the threat of lightning suspended play for more than two and a half hours.

Play eventually continued, and Japan's Kodai Ichihara, produced this excellent up and down at 18 to finish one behind Marksaeng on six under par.

But the long wait did nothing to help young Matsuyama, who having driven into the water off 18 went on to triple bogey the last and lose out on a place at this year's Open Championship.

The final group saw Lahiri produce an impressive closing 67 and win the tournament on 9 under par.

Former Walker Cup star, Jonathan Moore, then had this putt for par to finish in a tie for fourth place on 4 under.

With Lahiri, Marksaeng and Ichihara all guaranteed their place, it was between Moore, Lam Chih-Bing and Marden Mamat to fight it out for the last available spot.

And it only took one extra hole, as Marden holed this birdie putt to secure his third appearance at the Open Championship.