Shah Alam [SELANGOR]: Rookie sensation Gavin Kyle Green will have to bid his time awhile longer for a first win on the paid ranks after an uncharacteristic final round collapse at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Northport Glenmarie Championship on Saturday.
The overnight leader fell victim to “old habits” as a couple of costly bogeys saw him settle for a disappointing 76 to finish a shot shy of champion Blake Snyder at the RM200,000 (approximately US$50,000) Asian Development Tour co-sanctioned event.
Blake, who trailed by five shots at the start of the day, finished on two-under-par 70 despite a double bogey at the last for a 13-under-par 275 total at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
National amateur Low Khai Jei fired a superb 65 to join countryman Sukree Othman (70) in tied third place on 278. Danny Chia, a two-time winner of the event, R. Nachimuthu, Nicholas Fung, Thais Sutijet Kooratanapisan and Nirun Sae-Ueng as well as Jordan Irawan of Indonesia finished a further shot back in tied fifth.
Blake, who fired an ace in the second round, was level with Gavin after 12 holes and moved into a two-shot lead with birdies on holes 14 and 15. His lead was cut by one when he bogeyed 16 but he bounced back swiftly with a clutch 35-foot birdie on the next hole.
With the highly-rated Malaysian hot on his heels, Blake was almost forced into a play-off when a plugged ball in the greenside bunker resulted in a double bogey. But Gavin pulled his par chance wide as the American sealed the deal.
“I’m relieved because of how the last three holes played out. A huge birdie on 17, a plugged ball and I played ping pong around the green before sinking a 12-foot putt for double bogey. That’s the best double I ever made in my life!” said Blake, who won RM35,000.
“I was trying to ride the momentum from the previous hole. I was nervous when I saw my ball plugged and I chunked it out of the bunker. I knew I had to hold it together to pull through and I’m glad I did.
“I started back five shots and I knew I needed to get something going to put pressure on Gavin. I sank some birdies and made some birdies coming in. I stayed focus on the game and the birdies started to add up which was good,” he explained.
Gavin admits that nervousness got the better of him as he struggled to build on an overnight five-shot lead. He turned in 37 and added three more bogeys on his homeward nine to settle for second.
“I got nervous out there. I tried to calm myself out there but this will be a good experience for me. I was trying a bit too hard and I didn’t give myself a lot of chances. I tried to get into position but it was too late,” said Green, who turned professional in June after a distinguished amateur career.
Leading final results (Par-72) >
Malaysian unless stated
275 – Blake Snyder (USA) 70-68-67-70
276 – Gavin Kyle Green 67-64-69-76
278 – Low Khai Jei (A) 72-69-72-65, Sukree Othman 67-71-70-70
279 – Danny Chia 73-71-69-66, R. Nachimuthu 71-70-71-67, Sutijet Kooratanapisan (THA) 70-70-70-69, Nicholas Fung 67-71-71-70, Jordan Irawan (INA) 66-72-71-70, Nirun Sae-ueng (THA) 73-70-66-70
280 – Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 74-69-70-67, Tommy Mou (TPE) 71-71-69-69, Casey O’Toole (USA) 70-70-65-75
