Manjung [PERAK]: American John Catlin carded a final round five-under-par 67 to secure his first wire-to-wire victory at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) EurAsia Perak Championship on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Catlin traded seven birdies for two bogeys for a winning total of 16-under-par 272 and a seven-stroke triumph over Australian Martin Dive at the RM200,000 event, co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
Both Martin Dive of Australia and Thai Panuwat Muenlek maintained their round three positions at second and third place respectively with their final round 73.
Kemarol Baharin (72) was the best-placed domestic finisher, taking a share of fourth on 284 alongside the American pair of Paul Harris and Josh Salah, who returned matching 74s.
Masaru Takahashi of Japan, carded the lowest score of the day with his final round 64 to finish a commendable tied-7th. He now leads the ADT Order of Merit with Pannakorn Uthaipas of Thailand in second place.
Leading final results (Par-72):
272 – John Catlin (USA) 68-70-67-67
279 – Martin Dive (AUS) 69-71-66-73
283 – Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 72-68-70-73
284 – KEMAROL BAHARIN 72-67-73-72, Paul Harris (USA) 69-70-71-74, Josh Salah (USA) 70-71-69-74
285 – Masaru Takahashi(JPN) 74-72-75-64, NACHIMUTHU RAMASAMY 70-73-71-71, Jakraphan Premsirigorn (THA) 76-66-69-74
286 – BRANDON LAU KA KIN 68-71-72-75
Ladies
293 – Michelle Koh 70-76-76-71
295 – Genevieve Ling 75-74-76-70
Catlin started the round in slow fashion and lost his one stroke lead when he three-putted his first hole and made bogey.
He soon found his momentum with two birdies on holes four and five before dropping a shot on the sixth to turn in 36. From then on, he nailed four more birdies on his way home and sealed the deal with a birdie on hole 18.
“Honestly I felt terrible this morning because I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I was not feeling well all day and I just kept telling myself to put one foot in front of the other and play it one shot at a time. That was all I was saying to myself all day and all I had the energy for.” added an exhausted Catlin.
“This win means a lot because I have been really close on the ADT all year long and it is nice to finally get a win on the ADT. My birthday is also coming up in a couple of days so this was a nice little early birthday present,” added Catlin who will turn 27 on November 15.
Catlin took home a winner’s prize purse of RM35,000 following his victory and propelled him to third place on the ADT Order of Merit.
