American Corey Harris won the Asian Tour Qualifying School Finals on Saturday while amateurs Jin Yong-gab of Korea and Australian Vernon Sexton-Finck made a slice of history by earning their Tour cards with top-40 finishes.
Harris, the leader since the first day, shot an even par 72 in the final round at the Palm Resort Golf and Country Club's Cempaka Course in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, to top the class with his four-day total of 15-under-par 273. Australian David Bransdon finished second, three behind following a 72 on a blustery day.
"Mission accomplished," said a smiling Harris, whose round included three birdies and three bogeys. "My swing didn't feel good today but I stayed patient and kept telling myself that pars were good," added the Conneticut-native, who spent a month practising in Thailand prior to the school.
Korean amateur, 22-year-old Jin, showed his immense potential by earning his Asian Tour card despite an anxious finish with a 76, which included four bogeys and one double bogey. But he held his nerve to make grade in tied 22nd place, the first Asian amateur to do so following a regulation change a few years ago which allowed amateurs to compete in Qualifying Schools. Finck, a 25-year-old amateur from Western Australia, shot a 69 to also finish equal 22nd.
"I am so happy and proud of myself," said Jin, who only took up golf six years ago. "I started so badly with three bogeys as I was aiming for a low score but settled down into the round. I'm going to turn professional now and I hope to play well on the Asian Tour."
India's Shiv Kapur was amongst those who made the grade in the gruelling test, which started with over 400 players competing in Stage One. The former Asian Games gold medal winner enjoyed a chip-in birdie at the last hole en route to a bogey-free 68 to earn his Asian Tour card in tied 10th position.
"It feels good, I feel a lot lighter," said Kapur. "I played well today and it's pleasing to get my card.
"On the first tee this morning, I felt more pressure than the first three days. I knew it was an important round and it was a bit gut-wrenching when I was even par through six holes."
While the Asian Tour will welcome new faces when the first event of 2005 tees off later this month with the Caltex Masters presented by Carlsberg, Singapore, some old faces will also make a welcome return.
Filipino Felix Casas, returning from a two-year injury layoff, birdied two of his last four holes to safely secure his Asian Tour card with a final round 71 that placed him tied 15th. "I feel great. This is my last chance to come good in my career. I've knocked on doors in the past but they've never opened for me. Maybe this time.
"I'll continue training hard with my coach back home and carry on with my fitness programme. But I do need to be sharper in my game, especially my short irons," said Casas, once touted as the man likely to replace Frankie Minoza as the Filipino star.
It was a nerve-wracking wait for many players. Those on three-under-par 285 were given a lifeline in their careers, thanks to Australian Pat Giles. Playing in the third last group, Giles three putted the 17th from 15 feet for bogey en route to a 76 and dropped into a tie for 40th place with 10 others. If he had not bogeyed that hole, the cut off for an Asian Tour card would have been one shot higher at 284.
Those who benefited were three Malaysians, Rashid Ismail, M. Sasidaran and P. Gunasegaran, all on 285. Rashid birdied the 18th hole en route to a 72 and conceded he got lucky.
"I three putted the 15th and the birdie on 18 gave me the lifeline. It was a nervous wait to know what the cut mark was," said Rashid, last year's Malaysian PGA circuit number one.
Leading final round scores
273: Corey HARRIS (USA) 64-68-69-72
276: David BRANSDON (Aus) 66-70-68-72
277: Paul MARANTZ (Aus) 68-70-71-68, Shannon JONES (Aus) 70-67-70-70, Ross BAIN (Sco) 69-64-72-72
278: Adam BLYTH (Aus) 71-72-67-68
279: SUNG Mao-Chang (Tpe) 70-70-71-68, Alex QUIROZ (Mex) 71-71-69-68, Jochen LUPPRIAN (Ger) 68-67-74-70
280: Shiv KAPUR (Ind) 69-71-72-68, JO Hyo-Jun (Kor) 70-71-70-69, Scott STRANGE (Aus) 70-69-71-70
281: Dean ALABAN (Aus) 70-69-75-67, Chris TRAVERS (Aus) 70-69-71-71
