Red-hot Harding makes it two for two
South African claims Royal Cup by six shots
PATTAYA: Justin Harding of South Africa cruised to a six-shot victory at the Royal Cup to become the first player since 2011 to win back-to-back titles on the Asian Tour yesterday.
The in-form Harding fired a three-underpar 67 in the final round of the US$500,000 Asian Tour event. With a winning total of 14-under-par 266, Harding became the first player to win twice in his first two starts in Asia.
The 32-year-old, who won the Indonesia Open two weeks ago, took home the winner’s purse of US$90,000 while earning his fourth title in a span of two months at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.
“It’s been a good little run, I can’t really put into words right now,” said Harding.
“Two weeks ago it was a surprise, but obviously I’ve been playing nicely, just tried to get three good rounds starting this week and put myself in position and then get the job done. I played pretty solidly yesterday. It was a strange round of golf. I made a couple of more putts today which helped.
“I’m enjoying this run right now. The courses out here in Asia allow me to play strategically and I’m benefitting so I don’t find that I am trying too hard and just letting it come to me.”
Harding’s victory at the Royal Cup marked his fourth title in 2018, two of which were won on the Sunshine Tour. It also broke the Thais’ stranglehold in Asian Tour events held in the country. The last two Asian Tour events in Thailand were won by Panuphol Pittayarat and Jazz Janewattananond.
Defending champion Shiv Kapur of India battled to a 71 to share second place with Australia’s Jake McLeod (67), Kurt Kitayama (67) of the United States and Chapchai Nirat, who finished as the highest ranked local player following a 68.
Kapur said, “I’m disappointed obviously. Around the turn I played poorly and made a bad decision on the ninth hole on my second shot and then ended making double bogey and carried on the frustration to make bogey on the next hole.
“So that’s when I lost the tournament and played myself out of it but I’m proud with the way I came back from that despite being completely out of sorts. I managed to fight back and finish second,” he added.
“Every time you’re defending a title you want to defend it well and I think I can be pretty proud of the way I came and played this week.”
Prom Meesawat and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai, who shot matching 66s, finished tied sixth on six-under 274 along with Dale Brandt-Richards of Australia and Naoto Nakanishi of Japan.
LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES (Par-70)
266 — Justin Harding (RSA) 64-64-71-67
272 — Jake McLeod (AUS) 70-64-71-67, Kurt Kitayama (USA) 68-70-67-67, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 68-69-6768, Shiv Kapur (IND) 66-68-67-71
274 — Prom Meesawat (THA) 71-69-68-66, Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA) 70-68-70-66, Dale BrandtRichards (AUS) 70-70-66-68, Naoto Nakanishi (JPN) 64-69-70-71
275 — Johannes Veerman (USA) 71-68-72-64, John Catlin (USA) 67-72-67-69, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 71-65-69-70, Jarin Todd (USA) 66-67-69-73
276 — Chikkarangappa S (IND) 72-70-67-67, Viraj Madappa (IND) 70-69-69-68, Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 72-69-66-69, Sattaya Supupramai (THA) 67-6969-71, Travis Smyth (AUS) 68-68-69-71, Josh Younger (AUS) 65-69-70-72, Liu Yanwei (CHN) 68-66-70-72, Mark Brown (NZL) 67-68-68-73