SHANGHAI, 3 May 2005 — World No. 3 Ernie Els fired a flawless seven-under-par 65 to cruise to a 13-stroke victory at the storm-affected Asian Open yesterday.
The South African led from the opening day of the $1.5 million event and completed 72 holes in a tournament-record 26-under-par 262 at Shanghai’s Tomson Golf Club.
His margin of victory was a new Asian Tour record and the second largest in an event sanctioned by the European Tour behind the 15-shot win posted by Tiger Woods at the 2000 US Open.
Britain’s Simon Wakefield finished runner-up on 13-under after a closing 73, with Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn a further shot back in third following a 72.
Thunderstorms on Sunday morning forced the leading 24 players to complete their final rounds yesterday. Els’ victory was his 21st on the European Tour and 56th international title.
The tournament was jointly sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
The three-time major winner remains second in this year’s European Order of Merit with $1.05 million. His compatriot Retief Goosen heads the list with $1.2 million.
Wakefield’s second place was worth $166,000 and virtually secured his European Tour card for next year. New Zealand’s Eddie Lee and Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin tied for fourth on 10 under, with Britons Luke Donald and Stuart Little a further stroke back.
Petrovic Wins Playoff to Claim First PGA Title
In New Orleans, Louisiana, Tim Petrovic sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole and beat James Driscoll with a par on the first playoff hole to capture his first US PGA title Sunday at the Zurich Classic.
Americans Petrovic and Driscoll each finished 72 holes at 13-under par 275 and Petrovic sank a four-foot par putt on the par-5 18th in the playoff for the victory, worth $990,000 at the $5.5 million event.
Petrovic was twice a PGA runner-up, at the 2002 St. Jude Classic and the 2003 Pennsylvania Classic, but came through with his wife and daughters in attendance.
Masters runner-up Chris DiMarco, a playoff loser in the past two majors, found more frustration with a 72nd-hole bogey to miss the playoff. He has not won a US PGA event since the 2002 Phoenix Open.
Petrovic became the fourth first-time US PGA winner on tour this year, joining Ireland’s Padriag Harrington, Australia’s Peter Lonard and American Joe Ogilvy.
Having once had to resort to delivering pizzas to sustain his pro golf dream, Petrovic made the most of his first PGA playoff, the third at this event in the past six years. Driscoll, the 2000 US Amateur runner-up in only his 22nd US PGA event, went 12 feet past the cup on a 30-foot birdie putt. Petrovic followed by leaving his 25-foot putt four feet short. Driscoll, never better than 16th in any prior PGA appearance, judged the speed of his downhill par putt correctly but the ball rolled to a halt right of the cup.
Prammanasudh Outlasts Ochoa to Win First LPGA Title
In Franklin, Tennessee, Stacy Prammanasudh fired a three-under par 69 on Sunday to capture her first LPGA title, winning a head-to-head duel with reigning champion Lorena Ochoa to take the Franklin Championship.
The 25-year-old American became the first first-time winner on the tour this year, finishing 72 holes on 14-under par 274 for a three-stroke victory over Mexico’s Ochoa, who claimed her first LPGA title here a year ago.
“I feel great. I don’t know if I believe it yet,” Prammanasudh said.
“They are tough competitors out there. I’m just glad to finish on top.”
Prammanasudh won $150,000 for the triumph, which came on the same course where she managed her best prior finish in three LPGA seasons, a third-place showing in last year’s edition of the one million-dollar event.
Prammanasudh took a bogey at the third hole but back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh and again at the 16th and 17th sealed the victory.
Ochoa birdied the 13th to pull within two strokes of her playing partner, but missed a four-foot birdie putt at 15 and could not match Prammanasudh down the stretch, settling for a final-round 70.
Ochoa, second to absent world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam of Sweden on the LPGA money list, edged Wendy Ward by a stroke for the title last year.
Britain’s Catriona Matthew shared third with Americans Cristie Kerr and Christina Kim on 279, five strokes ahead of the sixth-place trio of American Heather Bowie and Australians Rachel Hetherington and Karrie Webb.
After three-putting for her lone bogey at the par-3 third hole, Prammanasudh sank a 17-foot birdie putt at the par-4 sixth, regaining a two-stroke edge on Ochoa, who made a bogey.
