2008 Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesian Open - Round 4: Aguilar clinches title as Jeev bogeys 18th

Chile’s Felipe Aguilar cemented his place among the game’s elite after a closing two-under par 68 saw him clinch the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open title in dramatic fashion on Sunday.

The play was heading into a sudden-death play-off but a costly bogey on the closing 18th by India’s Jeev Milkha Singh left the 32-year old Chilean victorious, claiming his first title of the year by one stroke, finishing on 18-under par 262 total.

Thailand’s Prom Meesawat returned a 67 to share third place with South Africa’s James Kamte, while New Zealand’s Mark Brown and Joost Luiten of the Netherlands tied for fifth on 264.

Aguilar, who held a two-shot lead going into the final round at the Cengkareng Golf Club got off to a nervous start when he bogeyed his second hole, but shifted into top gear to reel off three consecutive birdies from the ninth.

“I was a little bit more aggressive on the putts coming in because I had to try and chase it,” said Aguilar after making his first birdie at the 524-yard, par five ninth.

“After Jeev made bogey on the 16th, I realised that I was still in the game. I knew I had to make a three on the 18th for a play-off. I was so sure that I was going to birdie.”

“I didn’t expect him to bogey but you never know how golf is. It’s not over till it’s over,” said a jubilant Aguilar.

“It feels awesome! This is life changing for me – I can play whatever I want to play and can play easily. Hopefully there is more of this to come,” added Aguilar, who took home the winner’s cheque for US$200,000 at the US$1.2 million event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Singh began the day trailing Aguilar by two shots but was quickly on the charge, starting with the sixth hole where he made an eagle.

The Asian Tour 2006 Order of Merit winner went on to reel in a first birdie on the eighth hole, followed by another eagle at the 324-yard, par four 11th.

But his title challenge collapsed after wayward drives on the 16th and 18th resulted in two costly bogeys.

“It was Aguilar’s day and not mine today. It was disappointing for me but I guess that’s golf,” said Singh, who could have forced a play-off with Aguilar had his closing putt dropped in for a par. “Aguilar deserves this win and I congratulate him.”

Rising Thai star Prom, who finished seventh on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and registered six top-10s last season, made a dramatic charge up the leaderboard on the front nine, reeling in four birdies for a 32 at the turn.

The burly Thai however could not sustain the momentum, giving back two shots with a double bogey at the 16th.

“Everything was perfect except for that one shot on the 16th. I tried to go for the pin across the water but it fell short. I had to hook the ball for about 30 yards from the water to the pin,” said Prom. “It was just so unlucky.”

Indonesia’s Maan Nasim was the country’s best performer after he posted a four-day total of 277 to take a share of 56th place.

It was the first time since the event’s return in 2005 that the weekend rounds of the US$1.2 million championship featured local players, with Denny Supriadi, Ilyasyak, amateur Suprapto and Maan all making the cut.

Leading Final Scores (click here for full leaderboard and prize money):
262 - Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 65-62-67-68
263 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 65-66-65-67
264 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 66-63-68-67,James Kamte (RSA) 62-67-68-67
265 - Joost Luiten (NLD) 64-69-66-66,Mark Brown (NZL) 67-66-66-66
266 - Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 68-70-66-62,Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 69-64-66-67
Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 65-67-64-70
267 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 68-68-67-64,Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 71-68-63-65
Arjun Atwal (IND) 67-67-66-67

Selected Scores:
269 - Paul Mcginley (IRL) 68-69-66-66
271 - Darren Clarke (NIR) 68-67-70-66
276 - Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 66-68-71-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 67-67-67-75
277 - Maan Nasim (INA) 68-70-70-69

February 17, 2008

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