DRAMATIC FINALE AS BRINGOLF OVERTAKES CHIEH FOR THE TITLE
Chieh Po Lee’s cruise on the first three days of the 109th Malaysian Amateur Open Golf Championship came to a screeching halt in the final round at the A’Famosa Golf Resort.
Final day nerves frazzled the 16-year old who struggled to chalk up a five-over-par 77 and was relegated to runner-up spot on eight-under-par 280.
A bad double-bogey start at the par-four first hole was added with a miscalculated slip at the par-five 7th hole when his caddie had to help pull him out from the edge of the nearby pond.
“I tried to make it two-on, but failed and while searching for my ball in what I thought was a dry hazard, I slid into the pond,” rued the teen from Taipei.
As Chieh cracked under final day pressure, Daniel Bringolf made good the two-stroke deficit yesterday with a one-under-par 71 to snatch the title by four strokes with a tournament total of 12-under-par 276.
“I was just playing well all the way and aimed at maintaining my form and today everything fell into place,” said the 20-year old from Sydney Bringolf who took the lead with a birdie at the 10th. “I just thought if I put a little pressure later, it might crack him (Chieh) and I’ll be able to take the lead.”
India’s Abhijit Chadha claimed third place with a closing 71 that left him on seven-under-par 281 while Singapore’s Lam Zhiqun fired the day’s best score of four-under-par 68 to finish fourth on five-under-par 283.
A stroke behind in fifth place was Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan whose even-par 72 today left him on four-under-par 284 total. Reigning Sabah Amateur Open champion, the Philippines’ Jobim Carlos finished on three-under-par 285.
Meanwhile, Abel Tam was the best Malaysian on five-over-par 293 followed by Kenneth de Silva and Mohamad Azman Basharudin who were tied on 294 total.
Aretha Pan recorded a wire-to-wire victory in the women’s category, closing with a one-over-par 73 to finish with a three-day total of six-under-par 210.
Without any prompting, the 17 year-old gushed, “I got my driving license!” referring to her father’s promise upon winning this event. “But today my putting was quite bad. I didn’t need to do many chipping as I found the greens in regulations.”
Starting badly on the front nine, Aretha sank two bogeys but made amends on the back nine with two birdies and a lone bogey.
Philippines claimed runner-up and third spots through Dottie Ardina who closed with a three-under-par finish for a three-day total of 212, followed by Jayvie Agojo on 213 strokes.
The ladies’ two-day International Team event concluded yesterday, with Hsin-En Tsai and Chi Wang finishing with 280 strokes earning Taiwan top spot.
FINAL RESULTS
(Malaysians unless stated)
276 Daniel Bringolf (AUS) 69-69-67-71
280 Chieh Po Lee (TWN) 65-67-71-77
281 Abhijit Chadha (IND) 69-70-71-71
283 Lam Zhiqun (SIN) 74-71-70-68
284 Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 71-72-69-72
285 Jobim Carlos (PHI) 68-71-75-71
286 Ryan Peake (AUS) 74-68-73-71
288 Koh Deng Shan (SIN) 71-72-73-72
Natipong Srithong (THA) 71-70-73-74
289 Wei Hou Liu (TWN) 75-75-67-72
Top Five (Women) (Malaysians unless stated)
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