Park Enters the Record Books

Australian Unho Park held off the challenge of compatriot Scott Barr to claim his third successive Ageas HKPGA Championship victory last month

Unho Park held his nerve to become the first player in the history of the Ageas HKPGA Championship to win three consecutive titles after an absorbing final round at the Hong Kong Golf Club last month.

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, the 1990 US PGA Championship winner, 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 and a luxury Carl F Bucherer watch 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."

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