Al Mardhuf, Al Mada, Bank Muscat and Ideal score impressive victories
JEJU, South Korea: Triple major champion Brooks Koepka will overtake Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose to become world number one for the first time after winning the CJ Cup on Sunday by four strokes.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Koepka after completing a final round of eight-under par 64 at the US PGA Tour event in South Korea, highlighted by a chip-in for birdie on the 16th, to finish 21 under par.
“I don’t think I ever thought in my wildest dreams I’d be the best golfer in the world,” he added.
“It’s amazing to go world number one with a win. I always wanted to earn my way to number one.”
The 2018 US PGA Tour Player of the Year, Koepka carded a total of 267 to capture first prize in the $9.5 million tournament and hold off fellow American Gary Woodland, who poured in 11 birdies as he charged to a final-round 63 for a 271 aggregate.
The in-form Koepka, who this year won his second and third majors at the US Open and the US PGA, shook off some shaky moments early in his final round at the Club at Nine Bridges on the southern resort island of Jeju.
He started the week ranked third behind fellow Ryder Cup players Johnson and Rose, who both sat out the tournament, and will leapfrog the pair when the new rankings are officially announced on Monday.
Koepka began his final round with a four-stroke lead over fellow American Scott Piercy and England’s Ian Poulter. But it was Woodland who emerged as Koepka’s nearest challenger after beginning five shots adrift.
Woodland’s four consecutive birdies from the sixth put him into a share of the lead at 14-under as Koepka, playing two groups behind, was trading three birdies with two bogeys on his front nine.
Woodland blinked first on the inward half with a bogey at the 10th, and Koepka birdied that hole a few minutes later to reopen a two-shot lead.
Woodland bounced back with two straight birdies at the 12th and 13th, but Koepka coolly matched the feat.
Both birdied the 15th and after Woodland had another birdie at the 16th to close to one, Koepka put his approach to the same par-four hole into the left rough.
With a bogey looming, Koepka instead chipped in for a thrilling birdie to reach 19-under.
Moments later, Woodland bogeyed the 17th to fall three strokes behind and despite bouncing back with a birdie at 18, Koepka closed with an eagle on the last to cap off the victory in style.
“I just hung in there. I’m not somebody that’s going to panic if things go the wrong way, pretty sure everybody can tell that,” Koepka said.
“I just kind of hang in there, wait for my holes, I know I’m going to have some good looks and when I do, you’ve got to capitalise on them.” MUSCAT: Brilliant match-winning performance by Shuaib, who slammed 131 and then bagged 6 for 18, powered Al Mardhuf CT to a massive 164run victory against OCT Seeb in a B Division game at Muscat Municipality ground 1 in Amerat on Friday.
OCT had to pay a heavy price for putting Al Mardhuf in after winning the toss as its opponents piled up a huge 270 for 1 in 30 overs thanks to superb knocks by Shuaib (131 off 90) and Nadeem (109 not out off 83). The duo was also involved in a 246-run stand for the opening wicket. Shuaib then bowled brilliantly well, taking six wickets while Shanidh claimed 2 wickets for only 3 runs. BRIEF SCORES (B Division): Al Mardhuf CT 270 for 1 in 30 overs (Shuaib 131 – 23x4, 1x6, Nadeem 109 not out – 16x4) thrashed OCT Seeb 106 all out in 19.1 overs (Abbas 39 – 5x4, Issam Uthman 23 – 3x4. Shuaib 6-18, Shanidh 2-03) by 164 runs. JALEEL SHINES IN BIG WIN FOR AL MADA ENGINEERING In another B Division clash, Sameer Sheik’s magnificent spell and Jaleel Mahamood’s sterling all-round show helped Al Mada Engineering to a comfortable 8 wicket win over Ernst and Young (E&Y) at Muscat Municipality ground 2.
Sameer was instrumental in having E&Y dismissed for 154 in the 29th over, taking 5 for 21 while Jaleel bagged 3 wickets for 24. Mohammed Nayaz (37 off 40) and Issa al Balushi (32 off 29) were the main scorers.
Al Mada raced to the target in only 20.3 overs, scoring 158 for 2 thanks to Jaleel’s brilliant 54 not out. Ashok Patel (40) and Nishanth Menon (26 not out) were the other notable scorers. BRIEF SCORES (B Division): Ernst & Young 154 all out in 28.1 overs (Mohammed Nayaz 37 – 3x4, Issa Al Balushi 32 – 3x4, 1x6. Sameer Sheik 5-21, Jaleel Mahamood 3-24) lost to Al Mada Engineering 158 for 2 in 20.3 overs (Jaleel Mahamood 54 not out – 7x4, Ashok Patel 40 – 7x4, Nishanth Menon 26 not out – 5x4) by 8 wickets. YOUSUF POWERS BANK MUSCAT TO THRILLING WIN Star Omani player Yousuf al Balushi stroked a masterful 97 to script a narrow 10-run victory against National Bank of Oman (NBO) in a D Division clash at the same venue later in the day.
Batting first in a battle of big banks, Bank Muscat piled up 202 for 5 in 20 overs thanks to Yousuf’s superb batting in which he also slammed 5 huge sixes. Abbas al Balushi was impressive too in his knock of 41 not out.
NBO gave the big total a valiant chase but fell short by 10 runs, scoring 192 for 7 in the stipulated 20 overs. Mustansar Hussain (68 off 38) and Maanas Kapoor (45 off 21) played superbly but could not really take their side to victory. Mohsin Nazir and Nishanth Bhavsar took two wickets each for Bank Muscat. BRIEF SCORES (B Division): Bank Muscat 202 for 5 in 20 overs (Yousuf Al Balushi 97 – 10x4, 5x6, Abbas Al Balushi 41 not out – 2x4. Moazzam Shah 2-30, Zaheer Abbas 2-39) defeated NBO 192 for 7 in 20 overs (Mustansar Hussain 68 – 12x4, Maanas Kapoor 45 – 2x4, 3x6. Mohsin Nazir 2-31, Nishanth Bhavsar 2-34) by 10 runs. FAIZAAN STARS AS IDEAL
DOWN OASIS WATER Faizaan Muhammed steered Ideal International to a nail-biting 3 wicket win against Oasis Water in an E Division match at Muscat Municipality ground 3.
Oasis Water was bundled out for 155 in 18 overs. Ratheesh Parambil (29 off 17) and Javed (28 off 18) were the main scorers. Faizaan Muhammed and Haneef Hodekar took two wickets each.
Ideal achieved the target on the penultimate ball of the final over, scoring 159 for 7.
Batting at number 7, Faizaan contributed vital 48 not out to ensure a thrilling win for his side. Shameel Mohammed (32) and Akbar Shaikh (27) batted well too. Javed and Mansoor Veedu claimed two wickets each. BRIEF SCORES (E Division): Oasis Water 155 all out in 18 overs (Ratheesh Parambil 29 – 5x4, Javed 28 – 6x4. Faizaan 2-17, Haneef Hodekar 2-21) lost to Ideal International 159 for 7 in 19.5 overs (Faizaan Muhammed 48 not out – 8x4, Shameel Mohammed 32 – 5x4. Javed 2-15, Mansoor Veedu 2-21) by 3 wickets.