Australian
Adam Le Vesconte (pictured) broke through for his maiden Asian Tour
title when he claimed a four-stroke victory in the US$200,000 Philippine
Open on Sunday.
Vesconte, who started the final round two strokes off the pace,
fired a closing seven-under-par 64 for a winning total of 12-under-par
272 at Mt Malayarat Golf and Country Club. He won US$31,500.
Local hope Gerald Rosales, who had his sister and LPGA Tour star
Jennifer rooting for him, finished a distant second after a 67 while
overnight leader Jason Dawes of Australia was disappointed to finish
in third place following a 72.
Americans Ron Won and Bryan Saltus shared fourth position on 282
while Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit, who was second overnight, slipped
out of the title chase with a 76 to share sixth place with Malaysia's
Danny Chia, Filipino amateur Juvic Pagunsan, Canadian Darren Griff
and first round leader Andrew Buckle of Australia.
"I'm absolutely delighted," said the 31-year-old Vesconte,
who entered the week ranked a lowly 119th on the Asian Tour Order
of Merit.
"Last night, I had a feeling that I could win this championship
and doing it today will give me the opportunity to play in the bigger
events. The Asian Tour is growing so fast and I can now pick the
events that I want to play in," added the Queensland-based
Vesconte.
After an opening bogey, Vesconte turned on the style, making birdies
on the fifth, seventh and eighth holes to turn in two-under. Vesconte's
victory parade started on the homeward stretch when he shot five
birdies to ease his way to victory.
Rosales (pictured), who lost his Asian Tour card last season, will
benefit greatly from his runner-up's cheque of US$21,600. Despite
having his sister Jennifer amongst the family members cheering him
on, the talented Rosales failed to give Vesconte a closer run for
his money.
"I played well for my 67 but Adam played better. I'm happy
to do well in my home Open. I struggled on Tour last year but I've
been working a bit harder at my game and it's coming together now,"
said Rosales, the winner here in 2000.
Overnight pacesetter Dawes, who shot a course record 62 on Saturday,
never got his game going, a bogey on his first hole setting the
tone for the rest of his round. Thai veteran Boonchu also struggled,
particularly at the par threes where he ran up two double bogeys
at the fourth and 17th holes.
The Asian Tour will head to Seoul, Korea next week for the staging
of the Maekyung Open.
Leading final round scores
272 - Adam Le Vesconte (AUS) 71-70-67-64
276 - Gerald Rosales (PHI) 69-73-67-67
278 - Jason Dawes (AUS) 72-72-62-72
282 - Ron Won (USA) 69-71-72-70, Bryan Saltus (USA) 68-74-68-72
283 - Danny Chia (MAS) 72-71-72-68, Andrew Buckle (AUS) 66-73-73-71,
Juvic Pagunsan [A] (PHI) 68-72-69-74, Darren Griff (CAN) 69-72-68-74,
Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 70-68-69-76
284 - Gary Rusnak (USA) 76-71-70-67, Gilberto Morales (VEN) 71-70-72-71,
Keith Horne (RSA) 72-73-68-71, Rey Pagunsan (PHI) 70-72-69-73, R.
Nachimuthu (MAS) 72-73-67-72, Tony Lascuna (PHI) 72-71-68-73, Shaaban
Hussein (MAS) 73-70-67-74
285 - Sung Mao-chang (TPE) 69-78-70-68, Felix Casas (PHI) 70-70-75-70,
Arjun Singh (IND) 72-70-72-71, Lee Seong-ki (KOR) 71-75-67-72, Somkiat
Srisanga (THA) 67-75-67-76
286 - Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 71-74-72-69, Rick Gibson (CAN)
71-70-75-70, Hisaki Takeuchi (JPN) 71-73-72-70, Chris Gill (ENG)
72-69-74-71, Jay Bayron [A] (PHI) 76-68-71-71, Robin Hodgetts (AUS)
75-70-69-72, Airil Rizman Zahari (MAS) 70-72-72-72, Richard Backwell
(AUS) 71-75-68-72, Jochen Lupprian (GER) 71-70-72-73
Australian
Adam Le Vesconte (pictured) broke through for his maiden Asian Tour
title when he claimed a four-stroke victory in the US$200,000 Philippine
Open on Sunday.
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