HONG KONG (23 May, 2012) – The Singapore-based 38-year-old had come to the par-four 18th at the Kau Sai Chau Golf Course locked in the lead at three-over par with Guido van der Valk but showed no nerves as he drained his birdie putt – from distance – to put all the pressure on his playing partner.
The Dutchman had left his own approach shot on the last about 16 feet and to the right above the hole and then hit his birdie chance wide to hand Park the HK$72,000 first prize thanks to a three-round final score of two-over par 216.
“For the first two days my putting had really let me down,” Park explained. “I thought coming here today I had nothing to lose so I just borrowed a putter from my friend, who is also my caddy, and the putts just fell for me all day.”
It was the Asian Tour veteran’s first attempt at the Ageas Hong Kong PGA Championship and he left the course singing the praises of the event’s unique format, which takes players to three different courses over three days’ play.
“Mentally it is a really challenge, especially coming in here blind having not played the event before,” said Park who turned pro back in 1997 and had 10 titles to his name coming into the Hong Kong event.
“From the Hong Kong Golf Club, to Discovery Bay and then to here today you really have to be on your game as the conditions change so it tests you every inch of the way. Winning today has given me a real lift and now I hope I can continue with confidence for the rest of the year.”
It was the second year running that Van der Valk had to made do with the runners-up cheque here but the Manila-based 32-year-old said he had left nothing out on the course after finishing at three-over 217.
“I knew Park had been putting well and he was in the perfect spot on the last,” he said. “In those situations there is nothing you can do but make your own putt and I didn’t, simple as that. I just hit it a little too hard and away the ball went. But it’s been a good few days for me – to finish second on my own is good enough.”
Third place when to local golfer Wong Woon Man at four-over 218 while Australia’s 1990 US PGA Championship winner Wayne Grady had to leave the course content with a share of sixth place after finishing on seven-over 221.
Leading final scores Ageas Hong Kong PGAChampionship, Kau Sai Chau Golf Course:
216 - Unho Park (AUS) 71-73-72
217 - Guido van der Valk (NDL) 67-76-74
218 - Wong Woon Man (HKG) 71-73-74
219 - Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 71-71-77, Chris Tang (HKG) 75-69-75
221 - Wilson Choy (HKG) 70-75-76, Wayne Grady (AUS) 74-72-75