Taiwan's Lin claims first Asian PGA c'ship crown
Taiwan's Lin claims first Asian PGA c'ship crown
HONG KONG (AFP): A final round 68 by Taiwan's Lin Keng-chi at the Omega PGA Championship in Hong Kong yesterday was just enough to see off Thai rival Boonchu Ruangkit in the final Asian PGA order of merit standings.
Lin finished behind Boonchu in the US$500,000 tournament -- won by Taiwan's Yeh Chang-ting, leader from the start -- but stayed $4,479 ahead in the final money list.
Yeh hit a final round 67 for a nine under par aggregate of 271. Wales' Mark Mouland was second five strokes back after finishing with a 68.
Most eyes were on Lin however whose disappointing finish to the end of the Asian PGA's inaugural season nearly cost him the honors.
Boonchu produced a final round 68 that saw him finish joint sixth on 281. Lin's first sub par round of the event meant he finished joint 30th on 287.
But the Taiwanese, who has won three tournaments this year, finished on $177,856 to Boonchu's $173,377. Before the championship Lin had a lead of $13,000.
India's Jeev Milkha Singh finished third on the money list with $154,403 thanks to a final round 67, which gave him a four round total of 280.
Yeh, a Taiwanese who is a regular on the Japanese tour, kept his nerve to record the biggest win of his career.
He fired five birdies and two bogeys as he stayed ahead and made up for the disappointment of seeing his lead in the Hong Kong Open last November overtaken by American Gary Webb.
"When I played in the Hong Kong Open I thought that par for the last round would be enough for victory, and although I hit an even round, it wasn't," said Yeh.
"In this event I set a higher target so I would not make the same mistake twice -- I was more aggressive today and told myself that I would have to shoot two or three below par to make sure of victory."
He bogeyed the first after finding a sand trap -- and dropped another shot on the 14th -- but generally had another great round which culminated with a 10 feet putt on the 17th for his fifth birdie.
Mouland, a regular on the European PGA Tour, made sure of holding on to second place with a five birdies, a double bogey and a bogey, for a two under par 68.
"When I doubled the fourth, where I missed the fairway and then three putted, I was just basically playing for second place," he admitted.
Mouland said he had been very impressed with the setup in Hong Kong though and hopes to play several events on the Asian PGA's second tour this year.
Richard Kaplan of South African finished third on three under after equaling the best score of the tournament with a 65, including an eagle, four birdies and a bogey.
Selected final scores: 271 - Yeh Chang-ting (Tpe) 67-68-69-67 276 - Mark Mouland (Wal) 70-71-67-68 277 - Richard Kaplan (RSA) 71-70-71-65 279 - Mike Cunning (USA) 69-69-71-70 280 - Jeev Milkha Sing (Ind) 75-68-70-67 281 - Scott Taylor (USA) 70-70-69-72, Chung Chun Hsing (Tpe) 69- 71-70-71, John Kernohan (USA) 69-76-70-66, Chen Tze-chung (Tpe) 76-67-71-67, Robert Willis (Aus) 71-72-71-67, Boonchu Ruangkit 73-69-71-68 282 - Yuan Ching-chi (Tpe) 70-75-65-72, Bill Fung Hee Kwan (Sin) 74-69-72-67, Simon Owen (Nzl) 68-74-72-68, Amandeep Johl (Ind) 71-71-71-69