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Australian long hitter Scott Hend claimed victory at the Macau Open yesterday as the tournament’s star draw Ernie Els was forced to content himself with third place. |
On a day of drama in the $800,000 Asian Tour tournament, which also saw India’s Anirban Lahiri match the course record with an impressive nine-under-par 62, Hend capitalised on his overnight four-shot lead and never let Els come close to staging a comeback.
He finished the tournament with a three-stroke victory, closing with a four-under-par 67 for a 16-under-par 268 total.
Lahiri’s blistering fourth-day performance thrust him into second while four-time Major champion Els shared third with the Philippines’ Elmer Salvador.
Hend, currently ranked the 179th best player in the world, had a dreadful start to the first round with a dismal 74. But on days two, three and four he found his form battling head to head with Els for the top spot.
The South African began promisingly on the final day, sinking birdies on two, three and six. But a bogey on nine halted his momentum and he struggled to pressure Hend while Lahiri’s stunning round forced Els further down the table.
“It was very frustrating,” Els said after the tournament, according to a release put out by organisers.
McIlroy finishes second at Korea Open with late surge
Former world number one Rory McIlroy made a belated charge to finish tied second at the Kolon Korean Open yesterday.
The two-time major champ shot a four-under 67 at the $1mn OneAsia event, held on the par-71 Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, south of Seoul.
He put together his best round of the tournament with four birdies, one eagle and one bogey.
The Northern Irish star ended in second place with four others at three-under 281, one stroke behind the champion Kang Sung-Hoon of South Korea.
In his two previous appearances at the South Korean national championship, McIlroy tied for third in 2009 and finished the runner-up in 2011.
McIlroy failed to end his 2013 winless drought here, as he kicked off his late-season Asian swing, but said he was happy with how he played.
“I only missed two greens and had so many chances,” McIlroy said. “But it was like the story of yesterday. I just didn’t hole enough putts. I created so many more chances today that it could have been 61, 62. It just wasn’t to be.
“I hit the ball really well off the tee and my iron play was very solid as well,” he added. “I feel like my game is in good shape going into the next few weeks, and that’s a good thing.”
Kang Sung-Hoon captured the title after firing a two-under 69 on the final day to finish at four-under 280. He made four birdies against two bogeys.
Overnight leader Kim Hyung-Tae blew a four-stroke lead en route to a disastrous six-over 77, and received a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a hazard on the par-3 13th.
His day included just one birdie against four bogeys and a triple bogey.
Defending champion Kim Dae-Sub was even worse in the final round, shooting an 80 to end at seven-over, tied for 30th place.
South Korea’s Jin takes Perth title for first win
Former world number one amateur Jin Jeong overcame a bout of nerves to beat England’s Ross Fisher in a play-off to win his maiden professional title at the Perth International yesterday.
The 23-year-old South Korean tapped in from close range after Fisher missed a four-metre effort for par on the 18th, the first playoff hole, to win the $2mn event which was co-sanctioned by the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
“I was nervous, I was shaking but I controlled myself pretty well all day I thought,” Jin told reporters after carding a three-under 69 in the final round. “I don’t know what I’ve done to be honest.”
