Devers wins Tugu Pratama Omega Tour by one shot

Devers wins Tugu Pratama Omega Tour by one shot

JAKARTA (JP): Little-known American Clay Devers won the
US$300,000 Tugu Pratama PGA Championship 1997 with a 12-under-par
276 at the Bumi Serpong Damai course yesterday to take home the
$48,450 first prize.

The American's freight-train putt, which was the final shot of
the tournament, gave him victory by a single stroke from
Swaziland's Paul Friedlander -- Devers' playing partner in the
final group -- Korean Kwon Young-suk, and American Mike Cunning.
They took home $22,330 each.

The decisive putt gave Devers a final day two-under-par 70 at
the Jack Nicklaus-designed course while Friedlander, who had
started the day in the lead, two strokes ahead of Devers,
returned a one-over-par 73 as both Kwon and Cunning carded 68s.

Canadian Jim Rutledge finished fifth on 10-under-par 278 while
Indonesian Kasiadi was sixth together with Christian Pena of the
United States, Simon Owen of New Zealand and Ted Purdy of the
United States on nine-under-par 279.

Devers produced three birdies on holes five, 15 and 18 against
a bogey on 11. With a putt that would have finished 10 feet past
if it had missed, Devers holed out from 30 feet for a birdie
which saved him from a playoff against Kwon who was jointly
leading on 11-under-par.

"On hole 18 I was not really nervous. I was watching over Paul
but I forgot that he was 10-under. I was playing in the green but
I didn't realize that the green was so close to the bunker," he
said.

Spectators jumped and clapped their hands as Devers finally
made his birdie on the 18th.

"I like to play this course. The course is really in a good
shape and perfect," he told a post-tournament conference.

"I stayed right all the way on 18 and chose not to go for the
green in two," said Devers, who laid up 60 yards short of the
green and even hit his third way right of the flag.

"I was just thinking about getting a par and not doing
anything stupid. Standing over the putt, though, I knew I really
had to give it a go. It was uphill and there was no way I was
going to leave it short," added the 30 year old from Kansas City.

"I think I won because of the course. It is simply outstanding
and just so enjoyable to play. It inspired me this week."

Surprise

The victory was Devers' second win on the Omega Tour following
his success in the 1995 Vietnam Open. His other big win in Asia
was the 1995 Malaysian Open.

"It is kind of surprising I won this week," said Devers. "Two
days before I came here I broke my foot. I've been taking pain
killers all week to help me through."

Devers will be able to do a lap of honor today when he
plays in the pro-am alongside good friend Frank Nobilo of New
Zealand who is in town to open a new course.

Friedlander, who produced a remarkable 10-under-par 62 in the
second round and bagged $1,000 for breaking the course record,
said he did not play well yesterday.

"It just happened. I was tired on the third day because I had
to complete the second round early in the morning. It's not an
excuse but the second round really took a lot of emotion," said
the 27-year-old golfer.

Kasiadi said that his putting had been really bad in the first
and second rounds when he shot a two-over-par 74 and an even-par
72 respectively.

"But I've been told by Stephen Atako-Lindskog of Sweden how to
do perfect putting. It really helped me in the third and fourth
rounds. I thank Stephen for my success," he said.

Kasiadi, who bagged $8,422.50, produced six-under-par 66 in
the third round and five-under-par in the final round.

"I'm very satisfied with today's result. I only competed in
five Omega Tour tournaments this year but next year I'll compete
in 10 Omega events," he said.

Sonny Harsono, president director of Tugu Pratama, promised
that the sponsor will raise prize money next year but declined to
specify by how much.

The Omega Tour heads to Hong Kong next week for the Andersen
Consulting Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club, a specially
approved event on the Omega Tour. (yan)