HONG KONG, 15 January, 2014 (HK Golfer News Wire) - Unho Park held his nerve to become the first player in the history of the Ageas HKPGA Championship to win three consecutive titles after a day of high drama at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Park, who turned 40 on the eve of the HK$450,000 tournament, holed a succession of crucial putts down the closing stretch to card a level-par 70 over the New Course to pip fellow Australian Scott Barr (71), his co-leader after two rounds, by a shot.
Hong Kong's James Stewart fired a blemish-free 68 to secure solo third place, a further three shots behind. Tournament drawcard, 57-year-old Wayne Grady who won the 1990 US PGA Championship, finished in 10th spot after a closing 71.
"I'm so relieved right now, over the moon actually," said Park, who benefited from a Barr bogey at the penultimate hole of the tournament. "I was trying not to think about winning today but it was hard not to. I had a two-shot cushion at one point and let that slip away. It was emotional out there; I may have looked quite comfortable but it felt like my stomach was in my mouth."
Singapore-based Park, who earned a cheque for HK$81,000 in addition to the handsome Joe Hardwick Trophy for the victory, got off to a flying start with birdies at the second and third holes. Bogeys at the fourth and ninth set him back, but Barr, who lost out to Colin Montgomerie for the 2003 Macau Open title, was having problems of his own, meaning Park had a two-shot advantage with nine holes to play.
But Barr, one of the most consistent players on the Asian Tour since its inception a decade ago, roared back with birdies at the 10th and 14th to tie the lead. His only dropped shot of the back nine – after he failed to get up and down from behind the 17th green – would prove decisive, however.
Park, who made nine successive pars to finish, was full of praise for his playing partner and hoped his fast start to 2014 would translate into a maiden win on the Asian Tour.
"This has got to be the best [of the three HKPGA Championship victories]," declared Park, who compared his emotions over the closing holes to hitting his opening tee shot at the 2006 Open Championship – one of golf's four majors – at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. "Scott was a bit unlucky on 17, so to hole my own putt for par was really important. He's been playing really well ... I'm just trying to let it all sink in, but I couldn't have asked for a better start to the new year. I'm feeling good about my chances for the season ahead."
AGEAS HKPGA CHAMPIONSHIP - FINAL STANDINGS (Top 20 Scores)
15 January, 2014, Round 3
Hong Kong Golf Club - New Course
6, 535 yards Par 70
1 Unho Park Australia 68 70 70 208
2 Scott Barr Australia 70 68 71 209
3 James Stewart Hong Kong 72 72 68 212
4 Tim Tang Hong Kong 73 73 68 214
5=Chau Pui Hong Kong 72 72 73 217
Lam Zhiqun Singapore 70 76 71 217
7=Wong Woon-man Hong Kong 71 72 75 218
Martin Liu (AM) Hong Kong 74 72 72 218
Koh Deng Shan Singapore 69 77 72 218
10 Wayne Grady Australia 77 74 71 222
11 Dominique Boulet Hong Kong 77 79 67 223
12 Grant Gibson Hong Kong 72 77 75 224
13=Danny Kan Hong Kong 72 80 74 226
Chris Tang Hong Kong 75 77 74 226
15=Brad Schadewitz Hong Kong 76 79 72 227
Liu Lok-tin Hong Kong 81 75 71 227
17=Tong Chun-po Hong Kong 73 78 77 228
Tsai Chun-yu Chinese Taipei 76 76 76 228
Nathan Goulding Hong Kong 77 77 74 228
20 Jovick Lee Hong Kong 74 74 81 229