April 16, 2016: Gavin Green played with enormous pride and purpose, stealing a march on a stunned field to win the Manila Southwoods title.The Malaysian registered his first ever victory outside his own country with a sensational final round 65 trumping Deng Shan Koh and Donlaphatchai Niyomchon by two strokes. India’s Khalin Joshi posted a solid 68 for a tied 13th place at 9-under 275. Shubhankar Sharma could not press forward though, losing ten spots after he posted 72 on Saturday.
Joshi was spotless in the final round, showing good poise and a strong mind to script a brilliant 35-33 finish to his week in Manila. After making a birdie at the par-4 second hole Khalin made thirteen straight pars through to the 15th hole.
Khalin added a pair of quick birdies on 16 & 17, just in time to help him rise up the order. It was a good effort overall by the young Bengalurean who is making a good impression on the Asian circuit.
Shubhankar started his Saturday in tie with Khalin but three bogeys in the final round dented any possibility of an improved finish. He also made two birdies, at the 8th and 13th, but his score of 72 dropped him to 5-under 271. He finished in T30.
Overnight leader John Michael O’Toole showed nerves and never quite recovered. Back to back bogeys at the fourth and fifth holes set him back early. He did recover his poise to get back to even par with birdies at 7 & 8.
The American made seven straight pars before scoring a double bogey at the par-3 16th hole. Yet again, he restored parity immediately with an eagle at the next hole. But an even 71 wasn’t going to cut it on a day when Green was playing with authority.
Green rose to the top with six birdies in eight holes, starting at the sixth hole. It was an explosive burst that left the field panting for breath, allowing the Malaysian to coast home without any real challenge from there.
- In this article
- Pros
- anand datla
- Asian Development Tour
- Gavin Green
- khalin joshi
