Leishman ‘breezes’ to victory in CIMB Classic
Thais dominate 1st Pakistan tour
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14, (AFP): Australia’s Marc Leishman unleashed an early birdie barrage as he romped home by five shots to claim top place in the $7 million CIMB Classic on Sunday.
At the par-72 TPC Kuala Lumpur, Leishman closed with a seven-under par 65 to finish the only PGA Tour event in southeast Asia at 26-under par 262 for his fourth win on the PGA Tour.
His effort was five shots better than Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (66), and the American duo of Chesson Hadley (66) and Bronson Burgoon (68) – all of whom finished on 21-under par 267.
Two-time champion and former world number one Justin Thomas (64) closed with three birdies in his last three holes to surge up the leaderboard and finish in tied fifth place at 268, where he was joined by Mexican Abraham Ancer (65), South Africa’s Louis Oosthizen (69) and fellow Americans Charles Howell III (67) and Gary Woodland (71).
The world number 24 Leishman won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the BMW Championship in 2017 and continued his winning streak in 2018 with the CIMB Classic win. It all would have looked a distant dream when the 34-year-old almost quit the game around the time of the 2015 Masters, when his wife Audrey was diagnosed with and nearly died from acute respiratory distress syndrome and toxic shock syndrome.
An emotional Leishman, who made eight birdies, including a putt from nearly 50 feet on the par-4 ninth, and a solitary bogey, said it felt “unbelievable” to win.
“It was a very tough time that we went through, but it certainly made us stronger as people, made us appreciate just the everyday things, appreciate our kids more, appreciate friends, family, everything,” he said of his wife’s illness.
“I won’t say it made golf less important, but it made me realize that golf’s not life or death... As long as I give it my best shot, that’s what it’s all about.”
Leishman opened with a par and then made four birdies in the next four holes to pull ahead. A brace of birdies on the ninth and 10th had taken him to Marc Leishman of Australia poses with the trophy after winning the 2018 CIMB Classic golf tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 14. (AFP) 25-under par, with none of his closest pursuers putting any pressure on him.
Overnight joint leader Shubhankar Sharma of India started in a shaky manner before coming back strongly with four birdies in four holes from the eighth onwards, but he made three straight bogeys from the 11th to finish on even-par for the day.
Woodland also had an up and down round and never got going.
Grillo could have had a much better finish – but after getting to six-under par for the day after 12 holes, he could not make a single birdie on the last six holes.
The 26-year-old Argentine said: “I played very well, I shot 30 on the front nine. I started thinking if I could shoot seven-under, it would give me the chance. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play as well on the back nine, but four rounds in the 60s is always good.”
Hadley, 31, made a double bogey on the ninth hole, but four birdies on the back nine resurrected his round, and he was delighted with his finish after a poor run of form lately.
“Delighted like you wouldn’t believe. I haven’t been playing well for a while and to have a good tournament like this is really nice,” said the 2014 Puerto Rico Open champion.
Burgoon, who led after the opening day with a 63, recorded only his third top-10 finish in three years on the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour next moves to Korea for the CJ Cup.
In Karachi, jubilant Thai golfer Tirawat Kaewsiribandit soared to victory Sunday in the first international golf event to be held in Pakistan for over a decade.
“It was difficult in the beginning but I believed that I could win,” Kaewsiribandit told the media after winning the UMA CNS Open Golf Championship at a comfortable 12-under par.
Thai players reigned the four-day competition, with Jakharpan Premisigorn and Namchok Tantipokhkul sharing second position, both with 11-under par.
Mohammad Muneer of Pakistan finished third at 10-under par, with a full field of 132 international players competing, marking an important step for a country which has spent years in the international sporting wilderness.
An attack in 2009 on a bus carrying Sri Lanka’s national cricket team – in which eight people were killed – led to the cancellation of all future sporting events.
But successful military operations in the country’s northwest and crackdowns in urban centres, including the restive port city of Karachi, have improved the situation.
The country has twice hosted Pakistan Super League cricket finals featuring international stars, plus successful limited-over series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in the past 18 months.
These have cleared the way for more international sporting events with squash, tennis and now golf having returned. Terence Crawford, (right), connects with Jose Benavidez during their WBO welterweight title boxing bout in Omaha,
Nebraska on Oct 13. (AP) and one bogey in the final round to finish three strokes ahead of Charley Hull (71) of England at the Sky 72 Golf Club’s Ocean Course in Incheon.
An emotional Chun couldn’t hold back the tears after clinching her third career LPGA win and first non-major title.
“When I realized I won I just felt the hard times through the last few years just go away,” she said. “I’m so happy to get this win.”
The world’s top two players, Park Sung-hyun (69) of South Korea and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (71), South Korea’s Chun In-gee poses with the trophy after winning the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship at the Sky 72 Golf Club in
Incheon on Oct 14. (AFP) were tied at third at 12 under.
“A lot of fans came out today so I was very grateful and in awe but I’m disappointed I couldn’t show them a better play,” Park said.
The 25-year-old, who will attend the Buick LPGA tournament in Shanghai next week, added: “I wasn’t satisfied with my shot all season but I’ve gained confidence in the past two weeks so I’m looking forward to the remaining tournaments.”
Park’s compatriot and
defending