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Showing posts from January, 2018

ROGER FEDERER WINS 20TH GRAND SLAM AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN

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Roger Federer bagged his sixth Australian Open title and 20th Grand Slam victory after a five-set thriller against Marin Cilic . Federer lost the fourth but bounced back to win 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1. The 36-year-old Swiss became the fourth player after Margaret Court, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams to win 20 or more major singles titles. The historical moment in men's single tennis was played at the Rod Laver Arena , in Melbourne. Federer and Cilic played over three hours and two minutes inside the closed roof of the arena with air-conditioning running to lower the temperature. Cilic started poorly, but suddenly looking good when he won five games in a row to drag the final into a fifth set. However, the Swiss clung on to his serve at the start of the decider and got the key break in the following game. Federer ties the record for men's Australian Open titles at six with Novak Djokovic and Roy Emerson , and moves four clear of Rafael Nadal in the all-time list

PAUL PETERSON CLAIMS LEOPALACE21 MYANMAR OPEN

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Paul Peterson of the United States secured his maiden Asian Tour title when he outclassed the field with a two-shot victory at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open on Sunday. Despite dropping two bogeys in his closing four holes, Peterson ensured victory would belong to him by closing with a birdie on 18 to sign off with a five-under-par 66. The 29-year-old started his final day two shots off the lead, but stormed out quickly with two birdies and an eagle in his opening five holes. Peterson's lead was briefly threatened when he dropped two shots on 15 and 17 but the American maintained his composure by sinking a crucial birdie at the last hole for his Asian Tour breakthrough. Japan's Satoshi Kodaira set the course record at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club with a stunning 63. However his final day heroics were not enough to overtake Peterson, leaving him to settle for a share of second place with compatriot Tomoyo Ikemura with his four-day total of 11-under-par 273 at the US$

SIDDIKUR BACK IN WINNING WAYS AT CITY BANK DHAKA OPEN

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Bangladeshi hero Siddikur Rahman returned to winning ways when he cruised to a four-shot victory at the inaugural US$60,000 City Bank American Express Dhaka Open on Saturday. The 33-year-old took advantage of his home course knowledge as he shot a two-under-par 70 to win his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the Kurmitola Golf Club . He also won his first ADT event here in 2011. Sweden's Malcolm Kokocinski posted a 67 to finish in second place while Shankar Das of India, who trailed overnight leader Siddikur by two shots, settled for third after returning with a disappointing 73. Siddikur ended a five-year title drought following his second Asian Tour win at the 2013 Hero Indian Open . Since then, he has struggled with a serious back injury but believes this victory will provide an extra spring in his step ahead of a busy 2018 Asian Tour Schedule. Siddikur is one of the most inspiring stories on the Asian Tour and ADT . He worked as a ball boy at Kurmitola

KURT KITAYAMA CLINCHES FIRST WIN AT THE DARULAMAN CHAMPIONSHIP

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American Kurt Kitayama completed a stunning wire-to-wire victory at the PGM Darulaman Championship to win his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title on Saturday. The 25-year-old rookie closed with a two-under-par 70 to defeat a relentless John Catlin , who settled for second place at the RM225,000 (approximately US$55,000) ADT event. It was a dramatic final day where Kitayama's five-shot lead was erased by a battling Catlin, who fired three birdies and a 10-foot eagle putt on the 10th hole to draw level with his countryman. Kitayama, who finished tied-3rd in Qualifying School in January, responded with clutch birdie putts on holes 16 and 18 to secure his first title in Asia with a winning total of 21-under-par 267. After playing two years on the Web.com Tour , Kitayama was delighted to taste success in Asia. He pocketed US$10,096.15 for his victory. Two-time ADT winner John Catlin prides himself on his solid ball-striking this week to finish with a career best four

GARCIA CRUISES TO VICTORY AT THE SMBC SINGAPORE OPEN

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Sergio Garcia of Spain put on a masterful display of golf as he carded a three-under-par 68 to romp to a dominant five-shot victory at the US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open on Sunday. The 2017 Masters Tournament champion built his one-shot lead at the start of round four into a five-shot advantage after nine holes on Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong course. Garcia's day got off to a great start as he birdied the first hole. He went on to score two more in quick succession before the turn, on holes seven and eight. The Spaniard switched to cruise control for the remainder of the round, carding nine consecutive pars to close with a total of 14-under-par 270. A final-round 71 earned Satoshi Kodaira of Japan a share of second place. The six-time Japan Golf Tour winner played a roller-coaster round, highlighted by the fact that he only had eight pars out of the 18 holes. Shaun Norris of South Africa had a round of two halves. He dropped two shots in his front nine, but

TEAM EUROPE FIGHT BACK TO CLINCH EURASIA CUP AGAIN

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Team Europe , captained by Denmark's Thomas Bjorn , dominated the Singles matches to earn a hard-fought win over Team Asia with a 14-10 victory to retain the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM on Sunday. After trailing Team Asia over the last two days, Europe surmounted a gallant fightback to win eight out of 12 matches in the Singles format at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club . Alex Noren of Sweden delivered the day's first point with a convincing 4&2 win over Malaysia's Nicholas Fung . Asia's number one Gavin Green of Malaysia then fell victim to Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello 4&3. Europe's number one Tommy Fleetwood earned another point for his team when he brought down India's S.S.P. Chawrasia 2&1 before Thailand's Poom Saksansin gave Asia a brief reprieve, beating England's Paul Casey by one hole. Major winner Henrik Stenson put another point on the board for Europe when he won 2&1 against Japan's Hideto

SHIV KAPUR EDGE PROM MEESAWAT TO LIFT THE ROYAL CUP

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Shiv Kapur of India emerged triumphant at the US$500,000 Royal Cup after he closed the tournament with a four-under-par 67 to finish 14-under-par 270. Sunday was billed as a duel between Kapur and Thailand's Prom Meesawat as the pair emerged from the pack after round three. At the start of the final round, Prom was two shots ahead of Kapur, who was four shots ahead of the rest of the field. However, Prom lost his advantage early at the second hole of the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club . After pulling to the left, Prom had to settle for a bogey at the par-three hole, while Kapur knocked in a birdie. Prom's further bogeys on the fifth and ninth handed Kapur the lead. Although, the 33-year-old Thai managed to shake off his nerves after the turn and it was all square again following consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th. Kapur did himself no favours when he bogeyed the 13th and 14th and in the process, handed Prom a two-shot lead again. He bounced back remarka