Colsaerts triumphs in Chengdu
Source: Agencies |
April 25, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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BELGIUM'S Nicolas Colsaerts secured his first title on the European Tour with a nerveless four-stroke victory at the US$3 million China Open in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, yesterday.
The 28-year old, who led by a stroke after Saturday's third round, scorched the course at Luxehills International Country Club with a 6-under-par round of 66 for a total of 24-under for the week to set a tournament record, beating the old mark by five strokes.
"I have been waiting a long time for this and so I am pleased I won in such a good way," Colsaerts said. "A lot of people expected me to win a lot of events but it has not been that easy. It has been a hell of a journey."
The previous record was held by Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand and Ed Fryatt of England, who both totaled 19 under to win the tournament in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
Colsaerts picked up three birdies each on the front and back nine to stay four strokes ahead of the chasing pack of Spaniard Pablo Martin, New Zealand's Danny Lee (65), Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (66) and Irishman Peter Lawrie (68).
Martin fired a 9-under 63, the day's best score, which included 10 birdies and a bogey for a four-day total of 20-under 268 and gained 21 places on the last day of the event, co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour.
Former world No. 2 Sergio Garcia of Spain failed to end his trophy drought and finished tied 22nd with a final-day score of 69.
Colsaerts became only the second Belgian golfer to win on the European Tour, 37 years after Philippe Toussaint won the Benson and Hedges International Open in 1974.
In Jakarta, Lee Westwood celebrated his 38th birthday with a comfortable three-stroke victory at the Indonesian Masters yesterday to stay in the hunt for regaining the world No. 1 spot from German Martin Kaymer.
The world No. 2 will top the rankings if fellow Briton Luke Donald, who led by a stroke at the US$750,000 Heritage tournament in South Carolina after the penultimate round, fails to land the trophy.
"It was about coming here this week and trying to win the Indonesian Masters and I've done that. I've ticked every box this week so we will have to wait and see what happens," Westwood said after his win.
The Englishman, who led by five strokes after the third round, started with a birdie on the first hole but dropped a shot on the second to make the turn at even-par 36 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Westwood, who was world No. 1 for 17 weeks until Kaymer replaced him in February, birdied the 11th and 12th holes after eight straight pars to take control of the leaderboard to end at 19-under 269.
Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee finished second with a brilliant bogey-free round of 65 while Park Hyun-bin of South Korea and Thitiphun Chuayprakong of Thailand were joint third along with Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman and Australian Marcus Both at 13-under 275.
The 28-year old, who led by a stroke after Saturday's third round, scorched the course at Luxehills International Country Club with a 6-under-par round of 66 for a total of 24-under for the week to set a tournament record, beating the old mark by five strokes.
"I have been waiting a long time for this and so I am pleased I won in such a good way," Colsaerts said. "A lot of people expected me to win a lot of events but it has not been that easy. It has been a hell of a journey."
The previous record was held by Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand and Ed Fryatt of England, who both totaled 19 under to win the tournament in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
Colsaerts picked up three birdies each on the front and back nine to stay four strokes ahead of the chasing pack of Spaniard Pablo Martin, New Zealand's Danny Lee (65), Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (66) and Irishman Peter Lawrie (68).
Martin fired a 9-under 63, the day's best score, which included 10 birdies and a bogey for a four-day total of 20-under 268 and gained 21 places on the last day of the event, co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour.
Former world No. 2 Sergio Garcia of Spain failed to end his trophy drought and finished tied 22nd with a final-day score of 69.
Colsaerts became only the second Belgian golfer to win on the European Tour, 37 years after Philippe Toussaint won the Benson and Hedges International Open in 1974.
In Jakarta, Lee Westwood celebrated his 38th birthday with a comfortable three-stroke victory at the Indonesian Masters yesterday to stay in the hunt for regaining the world No. 1 spot from German Martin Kaymer.
The world No. 2 will top the rankings if fellow Briton Luke Donald, who led by a stroke at the US$750,000 Heritage tournament in South Carolina after the penultimate round, fails to land the trophy.
"It was about coming here this week and trying to win the Indonesian Masters and I've done that. I've ticked every box this week so we will have to wait and see what happens," Westwood said after his win.
The Englishman, who led by five strokes after the third round, started with a birdie on the first hole but dropped a shot on the second to make the turn at even-par 36 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Westwood, who was world No. 1 for 17 weeks until Kaymer replaced him in February, birdied the 11th and 12th holes after eight straight pars to take control of the leaderboard to end at 19-under 269.
Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee finished second with a brilliant bogey-free round of 65 while Park Hyun-bin of South Korea and Thitiphun Chuayprakong of Thailand were joint third along with Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman and Australian Marcus Both at 13-under 275.
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