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Haig wins wire-to-wire in Namibia PGA
 Anton
Haig enjoyed a repeat performance with his second wire-to-wire success
this year at the MTC Namibia PGA Championship on Saturday.
The South African fired a six-under-par 65 and ended his campaign
with a winning total of 17-under-par 196 at the Windhoek Country
Club. He finished one stroke ahead of the 2005 winner Thomas Aiken
who shot his second straight 63 at the 54-hole event.
“This victory is very special to me,” said Haig, who had
also led from start to finish at the Pulai Springs Malaysian Masters
where he won his maiden Asian Tour title in September.
“I learned to pace myself and pick my opportunities, not just
drive at everything. Like when I shot nine-under at the Pulai Springs
Malaysian Masters, I took every hole on its own merit and never
got ahead of myself. And that’s all I concentrated on this
week.”
Despite a dropped shot at the third hole, Haig bounced back with
a birdie at the fourth as he enjoyed steady putting firing three
birdies in a row at the sixth, seventh and eighth holes. Four straight
birdies at the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th holes solidified Haig’s
position at the top as he closed in with a late bogey at the 17th
hole.
“I love coming to Namibia, I love the course. I knew from the
moment I shot that 62 in the opening round, that I had a chance
to win.
“To have led from start to finish was an amazing experience.
I wanted to give myself a low score and as it turned out, a 65 was
good enough. This is one title I really hope I can come back to
defend next year,” said Haig.
In Japan, Prayad Marksaeng shot his second consecutive 69 as he
rose to tied fifth spot in the third round at the Bridgestone Open.
The Thai’s three-day total of 11-under-par 205 was seven strokes
behind leader Taichi Teshima who shot a lowly 63.
Korea’s Hur Suk-ho was in joint 17th place after a 71 while
Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand was even-par for the day in tied 36th
spot.
With three birdies against two bogeys, India’s Jeev Milkha
Singh, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit leader, carded his
best round of 69 as he leaped to joint 30th position at the Mallorca
Classic. Sweden’s Niclas Fasth and Irishman Gary Murphy remained
at the top after three rounds at the European Tour event as both
players were even-par for the day.
Singh will remain in Europe for the next two weeks as he will compete
in the season-ending Volvo Masters in Spain. He will be accompanied
by Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.
On the US PGA Tour, Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju climbed up the leaderboard
to tied 14th place after a strong 67 in day three at the Funai Classic.
He enjoyed a good run as he blasted an eagle at the par five eighth
hole coupled with four birdies against a lone bogey.
Hoping to make it into the top-125 on the money list and secure
his card for next season, India’s Arjun Atwal produced a superb
64 in the third round. Atwal, who shot up to joint 14th position
alongside the Korean, fired five straight birdies in the 10th, 11th,
12th, 13th and 14th holes. He enjoyed his best round firing four
more birdies against a bogey on the front nine. He is currently
ranked 138th on the money ranking.
Sweden’s Daniel Chopra and Ted Purdy, however, missed the cut
as they were even-par in the second round.
On the Nationwide Tour, Australia’s Jarrod Lyle is in the hunt
as he improved to lone third position after a 68 at the third round
of the PalmettoPride Classic. He shot five birdies against a lone
bogey and was two strokes behind leaders Michael Sim and Kevin Stadler.
Lyle is currently 19th on the money and is hoping to finish in the
top-20 for a card next season.
Korea’s Charlie Wi , who is ranked 35th on the money ranking,
shot a 71 in tied 30th place while Australia’s Andrew Buckle
missed the cut after carding a 76 in the second round. Buckle is
in 16th positon on the money list.
October 22, 2006
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