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)