Asian Tour Press Release
Mark Brown with the Johnnie Walker Classic trophy at DLF Golf & Country Club, Delhi, India.KIWI BROWN COMES HOME IN 31 TO
WIN JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC
New Zealand’s Mark Brown produced a stunning final nine holes to claim a dream victory in the Johnnie Walker Classic and a second title in a week.
Five birdies on the back nine stunned the elite field at DLF Golf and Country Club, Delhi as he romped home in 31 for a five-under-par 67 and 18-under-par total of 270 to secure a three-stroke victory over the Australian pair of Greg Chalmers and Scott Strange and Japan’s Taichiro Kiyota.
Seven days earlier, Brown won his maiden title on the Asian Tour when he captured the SAIL Open presented by Jaypee Greens and he made it back-to-back titles in India with a breathtaking display over the closing stages in the US$2.5 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and PGTI.
Brown trailed overnight leader Kiyota by four strokes coming into the final nine holes but he turned on the gas with a burst of four successive birdies from the 12th as Kiyota, who looked totally in control in picking up three birdies on the front nine, started to fade. Brown’s surge edged him in front and when Kiyota three putted the 17th Brown had the luxury of a two-stroke cushion playing the final hole.
The drama was not over though as, after an ideal drive, he completely mishit his second shot which looked destined to be heading to the water guarding the front of the green.
But the golfing gods were smiling on him and somehow it carried to the edge of the green from where he safely two-putted for a final birdie to put the icing on the cake.
It was a dream come true for a player who became so disillusioned that he gave up the game for three years, turning his back on tournament golf to take up a teaching role in New Zealand. But after working with coach Mal Tongue he returned with added vigour and the rewards are immense.
Victory was worth US$409,743 and lifted him to the top of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. His victory meant he joined great names including Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Ernie Els as champion of the Johnnie Walker Classic.
“It is amazing to have my name there,” he said. “I have worked extremely hard for this and it is a dream come true. I played for eight or nine years first time round and I wasn’t good enough physically or mentally. I have worked for three years to come back and my coach Mal Tongue has been a tremendous support. The last two weeks have been a blur.”
Looking back on his round, Brown admitted it wasn’t easy. “I played terrible the front side, I don’t think I hit a fairway or green and got to the tenth and said to myself let’s have a solid nine holes and the birdies started falling. The rest is a dream.”
The dream was almost shattered with his second shot to the last. “It was the worst shot I’ve hit since I was 14! Totally out of the heel and so thin I thought it was completely in the water. It couldn’t go anywhere else. Luckily I had enough club with six iron and it must have just scrapped over, it was quite a relief after that.”
For Kiyota, who was bidding to become Asia’s first winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic, there was obvious disappointment with his two over par back nine for a final round of 71, and he confessed his lost his rhythm the moment he started to think he could win. A bogey followed and the momentum was gone.
“As the score shows the front nine was great but on the back nine I started to think of victory and lost my pace,” he said. “I started thinking I could win on the 12th and made bogey and that just knocked me off my pace. But Mark played great golf over the back nine and I feel he definitely won it.”
Strange also charged into contention with a hat-trick of birdies on the back nine to move into a three-way tie for the lead before Brown edged one ahead with his birdie on the 16th. Playing the last, Strange felt he needed to birdie but he pushed his drive into the fairway bunker and found a terrible lie under the lip. His recovery hit a tree and third overshot the green. His chance was gone and a chip and two putts later he signed for a 71 and 15 under par total.
“It was a disappointing finish but I would have taken it at the start of the week,” said Strange, a two-time Asian Tour winner. “I played well, the best I have played this year and I am looking forward to the rest of the year now.”
Shiv Kapur finished the week as the leading Indian after a round of 68 left him in a share of fifth place on 274 alongside Sweden’s Johan Edfors, who shot a best of the day 65, and England’s Graeme Storm (69).
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
270 Mark Brown (NZL) 71-68-64-67
273 Taichiro Kiyota (JPN) 68-67-67-71, Greg Chalmers (AUS) 68-69-68-68, Scott Strange (AUS) 71-67-68-67
274 Graeme Storm (ENG) 70-66-69-69, Shiv Kapur (IND) 69-65-72-68, Johan Edfors (SWE) 71-69-69-65
275 Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 70-65-68-72
276 Daniel Vancsik (ARG) 67-71-68-70, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 74-65-70-67
277 Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 68-70-70-69, Scott Barr (AUS) 71-70-67-69, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 69-67-73-68
278 Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 70-67-72-69, Soren Hansen (DEN) 69-69-71-69, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 71-68-71-68
279 Phillip Archer (ENG) 72-64-69-74, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 70-68-69-72, Tony Carolan (AUS) 71-69-68-71, Scott Laycock (AUS) 72-68-68-71, Arjun Atwal (IND) 69-72-67-71, Kane Webber (AUS) 73-69-66-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-70-68-70, Mark Foster (ENG) 68-74-67-70
280 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 75 67 72 66.
281 Won Joon Lee (Aus) 70 69 74 68
282 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 70 73 68, Simon Dyson 73 69 71 69
283 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 72 72 71, Joost Luiten (Ned) 73 67 71 72
284 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 70 72 72 70, David Frost (Rsa) 72 69 71 72
286 Marc Warren 73 69 72 72, Iain Steel (Mal) 70 72 71 73, Adam Blyth (Aus) 69 72 73 72
287 Arjun Singh (Ind) 69 70 73 75, Michael Long (Nzl) 70 69 73 75, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 68 73 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 72 70 73 72
288 Sam Walker 72 70 72 74, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 72 70 72 74, Keith Horne (Rsa) 72 70 72 74, Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 72 69 73 74
290 Prom Meesawat (Tha) 70 72 73 75
291 Digvijay Singh (Ind) 70 70 73 78
293 Rahul Ganapathy (Ind) 73 69 74 77
303 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70 76 85
276 Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 74 65 70 67 277 Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 69 67 73 68
278 Soren Hansen (Den) 69 69 71 69, Wen-Tang Lin (Tpe) 70 67 72 69, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 71 68 71 68
280 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 75 67 72 66, Unho Park (Aus) 68 66 75 71, Gregory Havret (Fra) 72 68 70 70
281 Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 68 71 70 72, Won Joon Lee (Aus) 70 69 74 68, Adam Scott (Aus) 68 68 74 71
282 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 70 73 68, Simon Dyson 73 69 71 69
283 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 72 72 71, Joost Luiten (Ned) 73 67 71 72, Anthony Summers (Aus) 69 71 70 73, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 69 71 71 72, Simon Yates 71 71 68 73, Peter Lawrie 72 68 70 73
284 Anton Haig (Rsa) 71 71 69 73, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 70 72 72 70, David Frost (Rsa) 72 69 71 72
286 Marc Warren 73 69 72 72, Richard Finch 72 65 73 76, Oliver Wilson 72 68 71 75, Iain Steel (Mal) 70 72 71 73, Adam Blyth (Aus) 69 72 73 72
287 Arjun Singh (Ind) 69 70 73 75, Michael Long (Nzl) 70 69 73 75, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 68 73 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 72 70 73 72
288 Sam Walker 72 70 72 74, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 72 70 72 74, Keith Horne (Rsa) 72 70 72 74, Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 72 69 73 74
290 Prom Meesawat (Tha) 70 72 73 75
291 Digvijay Singh (Ind) 70 70 73 78
293 Rahul Ganapathy (Ind) 73 69 74 77
303 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70 76 85
Visit http://www.asiantour.com/ for tournament news.
WIN JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC
New Zealand’s Mark Brown produced a stunning final nine holes to claim a dream victory in the Johnnie Walker Classic and a second title in a week.
Five birdies on the back nine stunned the elite field at DLF Golf and Country Club, Delhi as he romped home in 31 for a five-under-par 67 and 18-under-par total of 270 to secure a three-stroke victory over the Australian pair of Greg Chalmers and Scott Strange and Japan’s Taichiro Kiyota.
Seven days earlier, Brown won his maiden title on the Asian Tour when he captured the SAIL Open presented by Jaypee Greens and he made it back-to-back titles in India with a breathtaking display over the closing stages in the US$2.5 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and PGTI.
Brown trailed overnight leader Kiyota by four strokes coming into the final nine holes but he turned on the gas with a burst of four successive birdies from the 12th as Kiyota, who looked totally in control in picking up three birdies on the front nine, started to fade. Brown’s surge edged him in front and when Kiyota three putted the 17th Brown had the luxury of a two-stroke cushion playing the final hole.
The drama was not over though as, after an ideal drive, he completely mishit his second shot which looked destined to be heading to the water guarding the front of the green.
But the golfing gods were smiling on him and somehow it carried to the edge of the green from where he safely two-putted for a final birdie to put the icing on the cake.
It was a dream come true for a player who became so disillusioned that he gave up the game for three years, turning his back on tournament golf to take up a teaching role in New Zealand. But after working with coach Mal Tongue he returned with added vigour and the rewards are immense.
Victory was worth US$409,743 and lifted him to the top of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. His victory meant he joined great names including Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Ernie Els as champion of the Johnnie Walker Classic.
“It is amazing to have my name there,” he said. “I have worked extremely hard for this and it is a dream come true. I played for eight or nine years first time round and I wasn’t good enough physically or mentally. I have worked for three years to come back and my coach Mal Tongue has been a tremendous support. The last two weeks have been a blur.”
Looking back on his round, Brown admitted it wasn’t easy. “I played terrible the front side, I don’t think I hit a fairway or green and got to the tenth and said to myself let’s have a solid nine holes and the birdies started falling. The rest is a dream.”
The dream was almost shattered with his second shot to the last. “It was the worst shot I’ve hit since I was 14! Totally out of the heel and so thin I thought it was completely in the water. It couldn’t go anywhere else. Luckily I had enough club with six iron and it must have just scrapped over, it was quite a relief after that.”
For Kiyota, who was bidding to become Asia’s first winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic, there was obvious disappointment with his two over par back nine for a final round of 71, and he confessed his lost his rhythm the moment he started to think he could win. A bogey followed and the momentum was gone.
“As the score shows the front nine was great but on the back nine I started to think of victory and lost my pace,” he said. “I started thinking I could win on the 12th and made bogey and that just knocked me off my pace. But Mark played great golf over the back nine and I feel he definitely won it.”
Strange also charged into contention with a hat-trick of birdies on the back nine to move into a three-way tie for the lead before Brown edged one ahead with his birdie on the 16th. Playing the last, Strange felt he needed to birdie but he pushed his drive into the fairway bunker and found a terrible lie under the lip. His recovery hit a tree and third overshot the green. His chance was gone and a chip and two putts later he signed for a 71 and 15 under par total.
“It was a disappointing finish but I would have taken it at the start of the week,” said Strange, a two-time Asian Tour winner. “I played well, the best I have played this year and I am looking forward to the rest of the year now.”
Shiv Kapur finished the week as the leading Indian after a round of 68 left him in a share of fifth place on 274 alongside Sweden’s Johan Edfors, who shot a best of the day 65, and England’s Graeme Storm (69).
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
270 Mark Brown (NZL) 71-68-64-67
273 Taichiro Kiyota (JPN) 68-67-67-71, Greg Chalmers (AUS) 68-69-68-68, Scott Strange (AUS) 71-67-68-67
274 Graeme Storm (ENG) 70-66-69-69, Shiv Kapur (IND) 69-65-72-68, Johan Edfors (SWE) 71-69-69-65
275 Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 70-65-68-72
276 Daniel Vancsik (ARG) 67-71-68-70, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 74-65-70-67
277 Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 68-70-70-69, Scott Barr (AUS) 71-70-67-69, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 69-67-73-68
278 Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 70-67-72-69, Soren Hansen (DEN) 69-69-71-69, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 71-68-71-68
279 Phillip Archer (ENG) 72-64-69-74, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 70-68-69-72, Tony Carolan (AUS) 71-69-68-71, Scott Laycock (AUS) 72-68-68-71, Arjun Atwal (IND) 69-72-67-71, Kane Webber (AUS) 73-69-66-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-70-68-70, Mark Foster (ENG) 68-74-67-70
280 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 75 67 72 66.
281 Won Joon Lee (Aus) 70 69 74 68
282 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 70 73 68, Simon Dyson 73 69 71 69
283 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 72 72 71, Joost Luiten (Ned) 73 67 71 72
284 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 70 72 72 70, David Frost (Rsa) 72 69 71 72
286 Marc Warren 73 69 72 72, Iain Steel (Mal) 70 72 71 73, Adam Blyth (Aus) 69 72 73 72
287 Arjun Singh (Ind) 69 70 73 75, Michael Long (Nzl) 70 69 73 75, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 68 73 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 72 70 73 72
288 Sam Walker 72 70 72 74, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 72 70 72 74, Keith Horne (Rsa) 72 70 72 74, Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 72 69 73 74
290 Prom Meesawat (Tha) 70 72 73 75
291 Digvijay Singh (Ind) 70 70 73 78
293 Rahul Ganapathy (Ind) 73 69 74 77
303 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70 76 85
276 Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 74 65 70 67 277 Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 69 67 73 68
278 Soren Hansen (Den) 69 69 71 69, Wen-Tang Lin (Tpe) 70 67 72 69, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 71 68 71 68
280 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 75 67 72 66, Unho Park (Aus) 68 66 75 71, Gregory Havret (Fra) 72 68 70 70
281 Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 68 71 70 72, Won Joon Lee (Aus) 70 69 74 68, Adam Scott (Aus) 68 68 74 71
282 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 70 73 68, Simon Dyson 73 69 71 69
283 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 72 72 71, Joost Luiten (Ned) 73 67 71 72, Anthony Summers (Aus) 69 71 70 73, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 69 71 71 72, Simon Yates 71 71 68 73, Peter Lawrie 72 68 70 73
284 Anton Haig (Rsa) 71 71 69 73, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 70 72 72 70, David Frost (Rsa) 72 69 71 72
286 Marc Warren 73 69 72 72, Richard Finch 72 65 73 76, Oliver Wilson 72 68 71 75, Iain Steel (Mal) 70 72 71 73, Adam Blyth (Aus) 69 72 73 72
287 Arjun Singh (Ind) 69 70 73 75, Michael Long (Nzl) 70 69 73 75, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 68 73 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 72 70 73 72
288 Sam Walker 72 70 72 74, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 72 70 72 74, Keith Horne (Rsa) 72 70 72 74, Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 72 69 73 74
290 Prom Meesawat (Tha) 70 72 73 75
291 Digvijay Singh (Ind) 70 70 73 78
293 Rahul Ganapathy (Ind) 73 69 74 77
303 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70 76 85
Visit http://www.asiantour.com/ for tournament news.
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, March 02, 2008
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