Sep 24, 2017: Japan’s Daisuke Kataoka birdied three of his last five holes for a closing one-under-par 70 to win his first Asian Tour title by two shots at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup on Sunday. India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia scored 4-under-par 67 to finish at T16.
Chawrasia once again showed his excellency and control over the game by adjusting 14 spots in the leader board in the final round on Sunday. Though he managed to balance his front nine with two birdies and two bogies, bounced back to his fire by carding 4 birdies in the back nine to finish with a 5-under-par 279 total.
Other two Indian players Chikkarangappa fired a final round of five-under-66 to make a gain of 19 places and finish tied 30th at two-under-282. Rahil Gangjee claimed tied 46th at two-over-286.
Kataoka, who started the round one shot back, held his nerve to defeat his playing partners and overnight leaders Poom Sakansin of Thailand and countryman Tadahiro Takayama with a winning total of 12-under-par 272 at the Caledonian Golf Club.
“I am happy to get exemptions on both the Asian Tour and the JGTO with this win. I was thinking about trying for European Tour Qualifying School actually but to do that, I have to skip three to four events on the local Tour. It’s my home tour so it was difficult”, said Kataoka.
Poom moved four clear after sinking two birdies in his opening eight holes but a costly triple-bogey seven on the ninth saw his lead reduced to one. The 24-year-old Thai slipped further with bogeys on 12 and 15 but he gained a shot back on 17 to sign for an eventual 73.
Poom settled for a share of second place with Takayama, who also returned with a 73 after marking his card with three birdies against five bogeys, at the ¥?150 million (approximately US$1.37 million) event.
Korean duo K.T. Kim, Younghan Song and Japan’s Shugo Imahira shared fourth place on 275 following respective rounds of 66, 68 and 70 at the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).
Asian Tour Release
