Sinnott wins Myanmar Open

Todd Sinnott of Australia wins Myanmar Open with three clear lead of 14-under-270; India's Shubhankar Sharma moved into top 10 at tied 9th place.

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Todd Sinnott of Australia

Jan 29, 2017: Asian Tour rookie Todd Sinnott of Australia secured a convincing three-shot victory at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open on Sunday in only his second tournament in Asia.

India’s Shubhankar Sharma finished inside top 10 with eight-under-276 total, lying at tied 9th place.

Sharma scored two-under-69 with 4 birdies, 2 each in front nine and back nine in the final round to close at T9.

The 25-year-old Sinnott fired a flawless six-under-par 65 for a winning total of 14-under-par 270 to defeat Carlos Pigem of Spain, who closed with a 68 at the US$750,000 event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

After hitting six balls into the water in the opening two rounds, Sinnott had to fight tooth-and-nail to make the halfway cut. He moved from 40th position to tied fourth after the third day and cruised to victory thanks to six birdies in the final round.

Sinnott was three-under after 12 holes but it was a pair of birdies on 13 and 14 which put him in contention. As his challengers slipped down the leaderboard, he had a comfortable three-shot cushion heading into the last hole where he sealed the deal with a birdie.

Pigem, who won his first Asian Tour title last year, produced three straight birdies after the ninth hole to charge into contention but slipped back when he double bogeyed the 12th hole. A birdie on the last handed him his best finish since winning in Chinese Taipei in July, 2016.

Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines birdied the closing two holes to finish on a 69 after dropping a double bogey on the third hole. He finished in tied third place alongside Koreans K.T. Kim (65) and Sungjae Im (71) on 274 at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club.

Overnight leader Yusaku Miyazato of Japan stumbled to a disappointing 73 as he finished in a share of sixth place, five shots from the champion Sinnott.

Interesting facts of the day:

  • Todd Sinnott earned his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in Thailand two weeks ago. He shot a final round 10-under-par 62 and was defeated in a play-off to countryman Richard Green. He said the experience in Qualifying School helped him in his Myanmar success.
  • Sinnott is the second fastest rookie to win after Chris Rodgers who won the 2006 Pakistan Open. In that same year, Kane Webber also won his first Asian Tour title in only his second event on the region’s premier Tour.
  • Sinnott is the first Asian Tour rookie to win since Danthai Boonma of Thailand won in Singapore in 2015.
  • In total, Sinnott hit seven balls into the water this week – four on the first day, two on the second day and one in the final round where he saved par on the fourth hole. He was 13-under during the weekend and only dropped one shot in the final 36 holes.
  • Sinnott holds the joint course record of 64 at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club with Yusaku Miyazato of Japan. This is also his first appearance in Myanmar.
  • This is the first time Carlos Pigem has finished second since joining the Asian Tour in 2013. It is also the Spaniard’s 11th top-10 result on the Asian Tour.
  • Miguel Tabuena double bogeyed the third hole after his tee shot landed in the bunker. The young Filipino said he hit a good tee shot and was praised by his playing partners before finding out that the ball landed in an awkward lie.

 

Asian Tour Release

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