December 28th 2010, Singapore: As the 2010 Asian Tour season draws to a close, here is looking back at some of the most memorable moments and quotes that have cheered everyone involved and made the season such a glorious one.
We look forward to more top-notch golf action again when the new season gets underway next year. Until then, Happy New Year to everyone!
Noh Seung-yul (Maybank Malaysian Open)
There’s always one crucial shot in a golf tournament that separates the winner from the pretenders. For Korean teen sensation Noh, it came on the final hole at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Holding a one-stroke advantage over four players including boyhood hero K.J. Choi, Noh blasted his tee shot miles left off the tee. His three wood second shot also stayed well left, flying over the Maybank hospitality unit to the left of the 18th green before coming to rest on the concrete path, some 30 yards from the green.
After being granted relief from the cart path, the young Korean stayed cool under pressure and hit a sublime chip shot over the left-hand bunker to within 18 inches of the hole to send the crowd into rapturous applause before tapping in for his second Asian Tour success.
“It was fun competing with the top players in the world and defeating someone I look up to,” said Noh of his one stroke victory over Choi.
Gaganjeet Bhullar (Asian Tour International, Thailand)
Being six shots off the lead, Bhullar of India needed something brilliant to pull his game
Gaganjeet Bhullar |
up and it came on the sixth hole at the Suwan Golf and Country Club where he was faced with a tricky 20 feet putt.
Bhullar knew any dropped shot would mar his brave comeback but he put his experience to good use and managed to sink the downhill curler from left to right to keep his momentum going.
Bhullar said after his round, “I rate that putt as the best of the week and those are the sort of putts that keep you going and win tournaments.”
Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Queen’s Cup, Thailand)
Playing the 72nd hole, Hiratsuka was tied for the lead with Thaworn Wiratchant who was already in the clubhouse. He found thick rough with his second shot into the par five 18th hole and then sent his chip 15 feet past the flag.
With the home crowd expecting him to miss and drop into a play-off, the Japanese ace holed his birdie putt from the apron much to his delight. “I just told my caddie ‘let’s hole this putt’ for the win,” said the Japanese.
Siddikur (Brunei Open)
Shooting an ace is always delightful – just ask Siddikur of Bangladesh. He scored his first hole-in-one on the Asian Tour during the opening round of the Brunei Open after his superb six iron tee shot rolled in the par three fourth hole at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.
His hole-in-one helped him win the tournament as he emerged as the first Bangladeshi to triumph on the Asian Tour. Sung Mao-chang of Chinese Taipei and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar also shot an ace during the first and second round respectively.
Ferdinand Aunzo (Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters, Malaysia)
An albatross had almost seemed like a fabled golf term on the Asian Tour before Ferdinand Aunzo of the Philippines holed one at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters.
It was the first albatross scored in three years on the Asian Tour.
The Filipino fired his first career albatross on the par five, 518-yard fifth hole at the Seri Selangor Golf Club when his seven iron approach from 172 yards found the bottom of the cup.
“I was in the light rough after hitting my drive on the fifth hole and my approach hit the front of the green and rolled for about 20 yards before going in,” said Aunzo.
The last albatross was coincidently recorded by another Filipino, veteran Frankie Minoza during the 2007 TCL Classic in China. Aunzo’s feat was the 15th albatross recorded in Asian Tour history.
Peter Karmis |
Peter Karmis (Handa Singapore Classic)
Karmis held a four-stroke lead going into the final round of the Handa Singapore Classic but a nervy front nine performance coupled by a resilient charge of Jbe Kruger saw the two South Africans tied for the lead after 10 holes.
Karmis needed a “wake-up call” following his bogey on the 10th hole and it came straight after as he sank a crucial seven feet putt for birdie on the par three 11th hole.
“Making birdie on 11 kept me going as my putter felt like it was working again. That gave me some breathing room and it felt like a huge burden had lifted off my chest,” said Karmis.
Adam Scott (Barclays Singapore Open)
Australian Scott was well on his way to writing a slice of history by becoming the first player to win a treble of Barclays Singapore Open titles and he did it with a grandstand finish as he sank a tricky 10 feet curler for birdie on the final hole.
“I haven’t been putting my best lately and the demons started creeping in a little bit on the back nine. But fortunately I squashed them,” said the Australian.
Pariya Junhasavasdikul (King’s Cup, Thailand)
Pariya, who won his maiden Asian Tour title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, produced three sensational shots in the third round of the King’s Cup on home soil.
The licensed pilot soared up the leaderboard following a superb 120-yard chip in for eagle on the 601-yard par five third hole. He continued his impressive streak by saving par on the par four fourth hole with another 68-yard chip in before sinking his second eagle of the day with a monster 60 feet putt on the par four 15th hole.
“What more can I say? I was a very lucky boy,” said Pariya.
Rikard Karlberg (Hero Honda Indian Open)
Asian Tour rookie Karlberg returned to the scene where he won his maiden Asian Tour title
Rikard Karlberg |
at the challenging Delhi Golf Club and produced another spectacular finish.
Karlberg sank a 20-foot birdie curler on 17 for a two-shot cushion and almost blew his lead by sending his third shot into the sponsor’s marquee on the last hole. But after taking a free drop, the Swede sensationally holed out his fourth for an unlikely birdie to seal his second victory this season.
“I made great up and downs all week and my short game has been unbelievable,” said Karlberg.
