Parnevik wins Johnnie Walker Super Tour title
By Robert Soelistyo
TAIPEI, Taiwan (JP): The overnight leader, Jasper Parnevik -- who was the hero of the European Ryder Cup team along with Ian Woosnam of Wales -- yesterday won the Johnnie Walker Super Tour.
The Swede fired a 70 (35 35) for a four-day score of 276 (67 71 68 70) to win the US$350,000 title.
Four shots behind the champion was England's top player Nick Faldo with a 278 (67 71 70 70) and veteran Thai golfer Boonchu Ruangkit closed the final round yesterday with a 70 (35 35), two shots behind Faldo with a 282 (72 70 70 70).
"I'm relieved by the victory as it was a unique tour which was very challenging," Parnevik told the media after winning the title.
The Swede had a cough and fever when he arrived in Taiwan Saturday night but "I managed to get off to a good start with birdies at one and three", he said.
The tour started in Indonesia on Dec. 9, then moved to Thailand on Dec. 11 and proceeded to the Philippines on Dec. 13, before the closing round in Taipei yesterday.
A private jet was chartered to ferry the players to each country, covering a total of 4,592 miles in just six days.
"I played well from tee to green but did not make any putts which killed it for me. It's something for me to work on for Christmas," the world number 17, Faldo, said.
The tour champion bagged US$100,000, second place collected $65,000 and third went home with $55,000.
Two-time runner-up at the British Open, Parnevik was 10-under 206 at the start of the final round held at Ta Shee Resort, Golf and Country Club here but went out strong and never looked back.
Booncho said he found the course quite good and "I'm pleased with the third placing as there were world-class golfers in the field to beat".
The game was played in cooler weather -- between 15 degrees and 20 degrees -- unlike the Philippines event where scorching heat forced Woosnam to withdraw at the 10th hole. Parnevik, however, seemed unfazed by the sudden change of weather here.
The plucky Welshman retired after suffering heat exhaustion and a doctor was called in, who administered rehydration salts and advised Woosnam to rest.
His participation yesterday was purely for exhibition but he managed to finish fourth and pick up $45,000, beating Felix Casas of the Philippines who received $35,000 for fifth place with a 285.
Maan received $15,000 for his efforts, $5,000 more than Woosnam's haul.
Parnevik, 32, turned pro at the age of 21, after winning the 1985 Dixie, and had some memorable moments when he made the British Open at Turnboy three years ago.
He came runner-up to South African Nick Price after holding a two stroke lead at the final hole, only to see Price eagle, birdie and par the remaining three holes to win by just one shot.
Last July, also at the British Open -- this time at Royal Troon -- he had a two shot lead heading into the fourth and final round before American Justin Leonard shot a six-under-par 65 on the final day to secure a three-stroke victory.
Despite twice missing out on a British Open victory, he was a member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team last September, when it was contested in Valderama, Spain.
Momentum
Unable to retain the good momentum he had in the third round in the Philippines, Maan again displayed poor performance.
Instead of reducing his arrears from a 13-over at the start of the fourth round, he made it 17-over after 61 holes of the scheduled 74 strokes of play.
He finished with a poor 304 (74 67 68 75) which he blamed on "very, very poor putting for almost the whole round here in Taipei".
"I really don't know what was happening with all that bad putting," a dejected Maan said.
In Maan's defense, Booncho said that when the Indonesian displayed his true form he "really is a good golfer".
"This could provide him with an insight because he could not overcome the pressure and that cost him a lot."
Maan went out with birdie-less strokes and made it 5-over 41. Coming home Maan had another birdie-less round, in total contrast to his form in the Philippines.
He was impressive in the opening game of the third round on Saturday, firing two eagles in the 1st and 14th and birdieing four against four bogeys -- although it came a bit too late.
During the same round, Parnevik only fired birdies at the first two holes, as did Woosnam and Els. Faldo was left struggling with seven putts in the 1st while Booncho bogeyed the first two holes and Casas made it par.
In the first nine, Maan had the best score total of 4-under 32 to make it 13-over after 55 holes of the scheduled 72. Parnevik had 33, Hong was parred and Woosnam made it 1-under-35.
Faldo, who was in the other group, went out with a 1-under 35; Els 3-under 13; Ruangkir produced a 1-under 35; and home favorite Casas had a 35.
Maan finished the third round with a 4-under 68 (37 36) coming from two eagles, four birdies and four bogeys.
With their convincing scores, Maan and Parnevik jointly produced new course records at the unfinished but impressive golf course which was designed by Australian golfing legend Graham Marsh.
After leaving Bangkok at 8 a.m. Friday, the entourage finally landed at Caticlan Kalibo Airport on Aklan island about 4 p.m.
The eight golfers and their caddies were then flown by chopper and light plane to a nearby airstrip for a 20 minute boat ride to Boracay. They finally checked into their hotels at 8 p.m.
The trip to Taiwan was another ordeal as the trip schedule was so tight that when the round finished at 1.15 p.m. local time Saturday, the entourage was rushed to standby jeepneys (small minivan) for the journey to the port, at the other end of the island.
They had a 20-minute boat ride before a two-hour trip back to the airport.
Results: 276 - Jasper Parnevik (Swe) 67 71 68 70 280 - Nick Faldo (Gbr) 67 71 72 70 282 - Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 72 70 70 70 283 - Ernie Els (Rsa) 69 71 71 72 285 - Felix Casas (Phi) 70 71 71 73 299 - Hong Chia-yuh (Am Tpe) 77 77 72 73 304 - Maan Nasim (Ina) 74 87 68 75, Ian Woosnam (Wal) 70 74 WD
WD = withdrew in third round in the Philippines