Murakami joint 22nd in Iskandar Johor Open

Artemio Murakami closed out with an even par 72 and wound up joint 22nd with compatriot Juvic Pagunsan and three others in the Iskandar Johor Open ruled by former US Open champion Retief Goosen at the Royal Johor Country Club in Malaysia yesterday.

Murakami birdied the first two in a bid to atone for his poor 74 in the previous round. But the Filipino bet, who -the event last year, made five bogeys against a birdie in the next eight holes and needed to birdie two of the last eight to salvage a 72.

He had a three-under 285, nine strokes behind Goosen, who fired a stirring 66 to beat Thai ace Thaworn Wiratchant by two with a 12-under 276 total.

Wiratchant finished with 10-under 278 after a 71 while Australian Kane Webber wound up third with a 279 after a 70..

Pagunsan bogeyed the final hole and missed improving his finish, settling for a two-under 70 and a 285.