Jeev Milkha Singh [Images] faltered on the tough and demanding final back nine and barely managed to squeeze into top 10 though he was looking good for a much better finish at the Asian Open at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf course in Shanghai on Monday.

Jeev dropped a bogey on 14th and a double bogey on 16th to end up with a two-over 74 for the day and a total of seven-under 281 when the play concluded on Monday after darkness had forced stoppage yesterday.

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Though he was disappointed with his final finish, this was his fifth top-10 finish in 11 starts since the Volvo Masters of Asia in mid-December. In 2005, he has had three top-10s.

Another Indian in the fray, Jyoti Randhawa, who looked like getting into top-10, dropped crucial shots on 15th and 17th and ended tied 16th.

Even as others struggled, Ernie Els returned seven-under 65 in the final round to claim the third title in Asia this year.

He was 13 strokes ahead of second place Simon Wakefield, who in turn was in clear of Thomas Bjorn who totaled 12-under 276.

Jean-Francois Lucquin and the Korea-born Kiwi, Eddie Lee, tied for fourth, while Luke Donald and Stuart Little with birdies on two closing holes, tied for sixth.

Soren Hansen and James Kingston [Images] were tied eighth and Jeev Milkha was tied 10th with three others, Edward Michaels, David Park and Peter Hedblom.

Jyoti who had a one-over 37 on front nine was looking good when play stopped at two-under after 14, including three birdies on 10th, 11th and 13th. But his bogeys on 15th and 17th ruined his chances of a better finish.

Jeev Milkha was 10-under and fifth when play stopped, but on resumption he dropped a shot on ninth, but made up on the 10th. He played calmly for pars through to the 13th and then came the bogeys.

Rahil Gangjee was tied 65th at three-over 291.