European tour star Jeev, who had lost his three previous playoff encounters, holed from 14 foot after third round leader Moe had virtually blown his chances by driving into the water off the tee. Hussain, regarded as a sleeping giant of Asian golf, was eliminated at the first extra hole when he bogeyed after a poor drive. Both Jeev and Moe pared the first and second holes in the playoff which was contested on the par-four 18th at Windmill Park Country Club.

Jeev, Moe and Hussain tied for the first spot on 13-under-par 275 after a startling final hole in regulation play. Jeev had a one shot lead going into the 18th but three putted from 45 foot for a level per 72 while Moe, the overnight leader, hit his second to four feet and drained the putt for a birdie and a closing 73.

Jeev had to comeover two ridges for his first putt and landed 10 foot by the hole. His putt to clinch the tournament slipped past to set up the three-way playoff. Hussain, playing two groups ahead, had secured his 68 for a 13 under total of 275 with a back nine of 32 which included birdies at the 10th, 12th, 14th, and 16th. Hussain, a former top amateur, won the 1998 London Myanma Open on the Davidoff tour.

An eagle at the 17th, where he holed his sand wedge approach, saw Australia's Wayne Smith card a closing 68 to grab fourth spot on 12 under 276.

Thongchai Jaidee, in his first year as a professional, was the leading Thailand player in joint fifth place after shooting a final round 69. The 29-year-old, who has had two top 10 finishes this year, carded six birdies but he three putted the ninth and 13th holes for bogey.

Jeev picked up $ 35,530 for his fourth title on the Asian PGA and his first victory since the Philip Morris Asia Cup in Korea three years ago. ``It feels great to win. This victory will stay with me fora long time. It means a lot,'' said Jeev, who is currently ranked 48th on the European tour moneylist. ``I had lost all three playoffs as a professional before today, all of them in the last year. It is good to get that monkey off my back.''

Jeev lost at the first playoff to James Kingston in last year's Thailand Open, went down to Choi Kyung-Ju, again at the first hole, in the Kirin Open in Japan and missed out in qualifying for the US Open in extra holes during the summer.

``All things happen for a reason and I think I have learned from those playoff losses,'' said Jeev, whose confidence coming into the tournament was high after his win over world No 5 Lee Westwood in last week's Alfred Dunhill Cup. ``I am happy and proud that I have come through the playoff this time.''

While Jeev overcame his playoff jinx, the agony continues for Moe who has lost his last three shoot-outs, including last year's three-player playoff in the Masters of Malaysia where he squandered a seven shot lead in the finalround.

``I have lost three times in playoff now and it hurts a bit,'' said Moe, who won the 1997 Singapore Open. ``I hooked my drive at the third playoff hole and hit my fourth over the back. It was all over after that. I have played well this week and it's disappointing to lose out in a playoff.''

The two previous winners of the Lexus International, 1996 champion Boonchu Runangkit and titleholder Prayad Marksaeng, both from Thailand, finished locked together on the ninth spot on nine under 279. Boonchu shot a final round 70 and prayad a one over 73.

Moe, Jeev and Gilberto Morales of Venezuela were all awarded honorary life memberships of the Windmill Park County Club for shooting 65, the low score of the event and a course record.

Mukesh triumphs

LUCKNOW: Mhow's pro Mukesh Kumar won the 6 lakh Wills Northern Open Golf championship on the concluding day at the Lucknow Golf Course here.

Mukesh Kumar tallied nine-under 271 to win and pocketed Rs 97,200. Stranded just two strokes behind atsecond spot, was Rafiq Ali, at seven under 273. He bagged Rs 67,200. Sanjay Kumar finished third, one stroke behind Rafiq, at six under 274.

Mukesh Kumar dropped a shot on his first hole, the Mhow pro turned in consecutive birdies on the next four holes, with a pared 6th hole, preceding yet another birdie on the 7th. An unfortunate bogey on the final hole of his outward journey placed him at 10 under for the event, six strokes ahead of his nearest rival at that stage, Sanjay Kumar. A bogey on the 11th and a birdie on the 16th placed him at 10 under and despite a bogey on the final hole he bagged the title.

Bangalore supreme

NEW DELHI: Bangalore Golf Club clinched the title of International Champions at the 6th Johnnie Walker Inter-club here today. They garnered a total of 440.8 points over the two-day tournament.

The winners will now go to witness the Johnnie Walker Classic. This one million-pound European PGA tournament is to be held in November at Taipei, Taiwan and will feature among othersTigers Woods, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh of Fiji and Jeev Milkha Singh.