Online Reporter
Takudzwa Chitsiga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWEAN professional golfers, Scott and Kieran Vincent turned on the style at the weekend’s Jakarta International Championship, standing out in a strong Asian Tour field.
Scott, who struggled early on, fought back superbly in the final two rounds to force a playoff with Australia’s Wade Ormsby after a dramatic finish. It was his second runner-up finish of the season, coming just weeks after he tied for second at the Shinhan Donghae Open.
Kieran, meanwhile, was equally impressive. He finished in a five-way tie with Doyeob Mun, Poom Saksansin, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Sadom Kaewkanjana, and narrowly missed the playoff after finding water on the 18th and settling for a bogey.
Scott walked away with US$220,000 for his efforts, while Kieran earned US$86,320. The playoff was one of the tightest on the Asian Tour this year, with Ormsby sealing victory on the first extra hole after making a steady par on the par-four 18th, where Scott’s approach shot found the water.
Scott had been aiming to become the first golfer to win back-to-back titles on the International Series after his Morocco triumph in July. Despite the heartbreak, he remained upbeat. “I don’t see it as disappointing at all. Wade played great golf, he hung in there and is a well-deserved champion. I had my chances to win, but I don’t think it’s ever fully in my control. I was struggling just to make the cut on day two, and to then have a chance to win on Sunday, I can’t ask for much more than that,” he said.
The Asian Tour now takes a short break before the SJM Macao Open and a run of eight consecutive tournaments to close out the season.
With the result, Ormsby climbed to fifth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and third on the International Series Rankings. Scott reclaimed the top spot from Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who finished tied for 33rd, and now leads both the Merit list and International Series Rankings ahead of Australia’s Lucas Herbert.
Mathew Masinge