Fraser ends 7-year drought
Source: Agencies |
April 26, 2010, Monday
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AUSTRALIAN Marcus Fraser was close to tears after breaking a seven-year title drought with a wire-to-wire victory by four strokes at the weather-shortened Ballantine's Championship on Jeju Island, South Korea, yesterday.
The 31-year-old dropped only his second shot of the week on the final hole for a three-under-par 69 to win his first European Tour title since his maiden triumph at the 2003 Russian Open.
"It's unbelievable ... I can't describe it. I don't know how I did that today, it's really blown me away," Fraser, who held a one-stroke lead after the chaotic first two rounds, said in a greenside TV interview.
"I've had so many chances to win in the last seven years that I just didn't know if it would ever be my day, but today it was," he added, fighting back the tears.
Northern Irishman Gareth Maybin also dropped a shot at the last for a round of par 72 to share second with Fraser's compatriot Brett Rumford, whose 71 also put him at eight-under.
Local hope Noh Seung-yul hit an eagle in his 68 - the best round of the day - and was the top Asian finisher in fourth place a further shot back alongside Briton Oliver Fisher (71).
Three-time major winner Ernie Els, who had been chasing his third win of the year after successes at the WGC-CA Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, shared ninth after a third-round 74.
The US$2.9 million tournament, also sanctioned by the Asian Tour, had been reduced to three rounds after six hours of the first day's play were lost to heavy fog.
Fraser was one of only 36 players to complete his opening round on Thursday and that seven-birdie 65 was the foundation of his victory.
Yesterday, the world No. 232 managed three fewer birdies but again kept his error count down to bank a check for half a million dollars.
In Avondale, Louisiana, Jason Bohn had a three-stroke lead on Saturday when third-round play in the weather-plagued Zurich Classic was suspended because of darkness.
Bohn, celebrating his 37th birthday, shot a five-under 67 in the completion of the second round and was even par through six holes in the third. Australia's Greg Chalmers and Czech Alex Cejka were tied for second at nine-under. Chalmers played seven holes in the third round, and Cejka completed six.
The 31-year-old dropped only his second shot of the week on the final hole for a three-under-par 69 to win his first European Tour title since his maiden triumph at the 2003 Russian Open.
"It's unbelievable ... I can't describe it. I don't know how I did that today, it's really blown me away," Fraser, who held a one-stroke lead after the chaotic first two rounds, said in a greenside TV interview.
"I've had so many chances to win in the last seven years that I just didn't know if it would ever be my day, but today it was," he added, fighting back the tears.
Northern Irishman Gareth Maybin also dropped a shot at the last for a round of par 72 to share second with Fraser's compatriot Brett Rumford, whose 71 also put him at eight-under.
Local hope Noh Seung-yul hit an eagle in his 68 - the best round of the day - and was the top Asian finisher in fourth place a further shot back alongside Briton Oliver Fisher (71).
Three-time major winner Ernie Els, who had been chasing his third win of the year after successes at the WGC-CA Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, shared ninth after a third-round 74.
The US$2.9 million tournament, also sanctioned by the Asian Tour, had been reduced to three rounds after six hours of the first day's play were lost to heavy fog.
Fraser was one of only 36 players to complete his opening round on Thursday and that seven-birdie 65 was the foundation of his victory.
Yesterday, the world No. 232 managed three fewer birdies but again kept his error count down to bank a check for half a million dollars.
In Avondale, Louisiana, Jason Bohn had a three-stroke lead on Saturday when third-round play in the weather-plagued Zurich Classic was suspended because of darkness.
Bohn, celebrating his 37th birthday, shot a five-under 67 in the completion of the second round and was even par through six holes in the third. Australia's Greg Chalmers and Czech Alex Cejka were tied for second at nine-under. Chalmers played seven holes in the third round, and Cejka completed six.
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