HONG KONG, Jan 17, 2013 (HK Golfer News Wire) - Australia’s Unho Park won his second successive Ageas HKPGA Championship in dramatic fashion after capitalizing on a late error by local favourite James Stewart at Kau Sai Chau yesterday.
Singapore-based Park, 39, finished on a three-round total of 207, six-under-par, to win by two shots from Stewart, who let things slip with a triple bogey at the penultimate hole of the championship.
Hong Kong amateur Shinichi Mizuno and Australia’s Scott Barr tied for third on three-under.
“I feel for James as I know he, coming from Hong Kong, really wanted to win this event,” said Park, who finished 59th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last year. “But I was happy with the way I played, and to come out on top for the second year in a row is very pleasing. It’s the first time I’ve successfully defended a title, so it’s a very positive start to the season for me.”
Park, who earned a cheque for HK$72,000, became the first player to win back-to-back championships since Kyi Hla Han, the current executive director of the Asian Tour, achieved the feat in 1993 and 1994.
Stewart, 37, had entered the final round with a slender one-shot advantage over Park after enjoying a brilliant 64 at the Hong Kong Golf Club on day two. But despite getting off to a shaky start with three bogeys on the front nine, the long-time Hong Kong resident bounced back to regain the lead from Park with a fine birdie at the 16th.
But then disaster struck. A pushed drive at the long par-5 17th found a fairway bunker, from which he required two shots to escape. After missing the green with his approach, the unfortunate Stewart took four more shots to record a miserable “snowman” eight.
Park, by contrast, made a solid five, and with a two-shot lead held on with another regulation par at the closing hole.
“It’s obviously a disappointing way to finish,” admitted Stewart, who won leg four of the HKPGA Order of Merit in Dongguan last month. “I caught that first bunker shot a little thin and then it unravelled a bit from there. But overall it was still a good week, and it made me realize I can still compete with some of the guys from the Asian Tour.”
Tournament drawcard Wayne Grady, who won the 1990 US PGA Championship, finished in a share of 19th spot alongside 2010 Ageas HKPGA Championship winner CJ Gatto.
Results
1 Unho Park (Australia) 69 67 71 207
2 James Stewart (Hong Kong) 71 64 74 209
3= Shinichi Mizuno - A (Hong Kong) 69 71 70 210
Scott Barr (Australia)70 69 71 210
5 Lam Chih Bing (Singapore) 69 70 74 213
6= Tang Man Kee (Hong Kong) 73 70 74 217
Ross Bain (Scotland) 66 74 77 217
8 Jimmy Ko (Hong Kong) 75 71 74 220
9 Oliver Roberts – A (Hong Kong) 73 71 77 221
10 Jovick Lee (Hong Kong)74 68 80 222
