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Showing posts from December, 2017

NAMCHOK SURVIVES PLAY-OFF TO WIN THE BOONCHU RUANGKIT CHAMPIONSHIP

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Thailand's Namchok Tantipokhakul defeated countryman Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol on the second play-off hole to win his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship on Sunday. The 30-year-old Namchok, who held a five-shot lead heading into the final round, fired three birdies in his opening five holes but dropped a shot on nine to turn in 33. He stumbled with another double-bogey on 12 before trading two bogeys against a birdie in the next four holes. It was a crucial four-footer birdie putt on the last hole 18 which saw him close with an even-par 71 to force extra time with Channachok, who had returned with a 66, at the Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club . The duo was tied on 14-under-par 270 total in regulation play. Namchok and Chanachok parred the first play-off hole held on the par-four 18 after missing a five-footer and eight-footer respectively. It was a sensational 12-feet eagle putt that sealed the deal for Namchok on the

PANNAKORN UTHAIPAS WINS THE 2017 ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR ORDER OF MERIT

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Thai hotshot Pannakorn Uthaipas won the prestigious Asian Development Tour (ADT) crown after closing with a three-under-par 68 to finish in tied-31st place at the season-ending Boonchu Ruangkit Championship on Sunday. Pannakorn, who held the Order of Merit lead heading into the season-finale, sealed the deal after his closest competitors Masaru Takahashi of Japan missed the halfway cut and American John Catlin finished outside top-three at the Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club . Pannakorn had a year to remember in 2017 where he notched one victory and four top-10s to cap a season's haul of US$55,859 on the region's secondary circuit, which was launched in 2010 as a gateway to the Asian Tour . The 27-year-old Pannakorn became the second Thai, following Pavit Tangkamolprasert in 2014, to win the accolade. Pannakorn, who claimed his breakthrough win at the Taifong Open in Chinese Taipei earlier in June, had regained his lead on the money list following a seco

EASY WIN FOR JUSTIN ROSE AT THE INDONESIAN MASTERS

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England's Justin Rose capped a sensational year by signing off with a final round 10-under-par 62 to win the Indonesian Masters presented by Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) and Telkom Indonesia on Sunday. The marathon week, where the Indonesian Masters was hit by multiple weather suspensions did not faze the world number six. After completing 10 holes from his third round in the morning, Rose was back at the starting tee in 30 minutes. The world number six got his round going with a birdie on the third hole before embarking on a stunning run with four birdies and an eagle starting from the par-four fifth at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club . Rose's lead was never threatened when he surged further ahead with three birdies in his next four holes after making the turn in 29. The Olympic gold medalist dropped a shot on 16 but delighted the crowd at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club by closing with a birdie on 18 f

GAVIN GREEN MAKES HISTORY WITH MERIT WIN

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Gavin Green made history by becoming the first Malaysian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit after an intense 12-month battle with several of the region's best golfers. Green's accomplishment is a watershed moment in Malaysia's golfing history as no player from the country has ever come close to laying claim to the honour of being Asia's number one golfer. With his latest win, the 23-year-old is now the second youngest golfer to win the accolade since 2004, when the Asian Tour was established. Korea's Seungyul Noh was 19 years old when he won the merit title in 2010. The big-hitting Malaysian opened up an unassailable lead on the merit list following his tied-19th finish at the R16.5 million (approx. US$1.2 million) Joburg Open earning US$13,277.40 which gave him a total of US$585,813.46 this season. By finishing on top of the Order of Merit, Green has earned a five-year exemption on the Asian Tour and spots at next year's The Open as well as the

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA BECOMES THE FIRST ASIAN TO WIN JOBURG OPEN

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Shubhankar Sharma of India won the Joburg Open in sensational style on Monday and punched his ticket to The Open in 2018. The 21-year-old closed with a three-under-par 69 and was bogey-free in the final 54 holes as he ended his first tournament in South Africa with an impressive winning total of 23-under-par 264 at the Randpark Golf Club . Sharma defeated home favourite Erik van Rooyen (66) by three shots while two-time Asian Tour winner Shaun Norris (65) of South Africa and Tapio Pulkkanen   of Finland settled for third place at the event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Sunshine Tour . Van Rooyen booked a spot at Carnoustie and he will be joined by countryman Norris who earned his second appearance at The Open after being ranked higher than Pulkkanen on the Official World Golf Ranking . Sharma showed no ill effects from the overnight delay when he returned to birdie the ninth hole before parring his way home for a 69 to become the first Asian and In

KIRADECH CRUISES TO THREE-SHOT VICTORY AT THE THONGCHAI JAIDEE FOUNDATION

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Kiradech Aphibarnrat underlined his status as Thailand's number one golfer by lifting the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation trophy for the second time at the Siam Country Club 's Waterside course on Sunday. Starting the round with a three-shot lead, Kiradech fired four birdies against two bogeys to close with a two-under-par 70. He won by three shots with a 14-under-par 274 total at the 4 million Baht (approximately US$120,000) Asian Development Tour (ADT) event. The 28-year-old Kiradech, who won the inaugural edition in 2015, took home a winner's cheque of US$21,466 and received nine Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which will put him closer to breaking into the world's top-50 by the end of the season. Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate William Harrold of England returned with a solid 66 to take second place while Thailand's Pannakorn Uthaipas posted a battling 71 to settle for third place on 278 at the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation. American Jo