Saxon takes his third title in Changsha
American Charlie Saxon won his third PGA Tour Series-China title on Monday with a two-shot victory over Japan’s Taihei Sato at the Changsha Championship.
Saxon carded a 68 to finish with a 10-under total of 278 at Hunan Dragon Lake International Golf Club, where play was suspended twice on Sunday afternoon due to severe thunderstorms, forcing 24 players to complete their rounds on Monday.
Saxon, playing in the penultimate group, was 9-under when he resumed on the 15th fairway, while Sato, playing in the final flight, started at the 14th, two shots behind the leader.
The 25-year-old Saxon won two titles in 2016 on his way to finishing second on the order of merit, and made sure of lifting his third trophy with three pars and a birdie on the par-5 18th, a hole Sato also birdied to post a closing 70.
“It was really kind of a dream finish. It was what I wanted to do when I went to bed last night, so I was happy to be able to do it,” said Saxon.
“Those final holes are not easy at all; they’re playing straight into the wind and
Charlie Saxon, after winning the Changsha Championship on Monday
there’s disaster to be had on all of them.
“However, I didn’t really miss a shot coming down the stretch, played really solid holes, gave myself birdie looks, tapped in for par and then birdied the last, so I was really happy with that.”
Along with many of his fellow competitors, Saxon then headed to the airport to fly to Hainan Island for this week’s Haikou Championship, the fourth event on this season’s PGA Tour Series-China.
“I’ll stay away from the golf course for a couple of days and play the pro-am on Wednesday,” Saxon said.
“I’m looking forward to the week. I heard it’s a good course and a good hotel, so it should be fun.”
Sato, 24, was disappointed not to catch Saxon, but remained positive after an impressive performance.
“It was a good week for me,” he said. “I’m playing very well and I’m very happy.”
American Kurt Kitayama (75), who played with Sato in the last group, restarted in third place at 5-under and bagged a birdie at 14 before closing with two bogeys, retaining third place at 4-under.
Chinese Taipei’s Chiehpo “Max” Lee (77), co-leader with Kitayama after the third round, also birdied 14 and finished fourth at 2-under, one ahead of Japan’s Yuwa Kosaihira (71).
China’s Luo Xuewen (73), Korea’s Kim Tae-woo (73) and first-round leader Jeffrey Kang (76) of the US shared sixth at level par.
China’s Chen Changping (74) built on his tie for 18th at the previous event, the Chongqing Championship, by finishing ninth at 1-over.
Three other Chinese — Zhang Huilin (73), Chen Zihao (76) and Zhang Jin (71) — tied for 14th with Australia’s James Marchesani (73).
Every tournament on this year’s PGA Tour Series-China offers 1.5 million yuan ($237,000) in total prize money, which represents a 25 percent increase over last year.
The PGA Tour established its China series in 2014 following similar offshoots in Latin America and Canada.
The top five money winners on the PGA Tour SeriesChina order of merit will earn 2019 Web.com Tour membership.
It was really kind of a dream finish. It was what I wanted to do when I went to bed last night, so I was happy to be able to do it.”