MANILA, 23 May 2005 — Australian Adam Le Vesconte broke through for his maiden Asian Tour title when he claimed a four-stroke victory in the $200,000 Philippine Open yesterday.
Vesconte, who started the final round two strokes off the pace, fired a closing seven-under-par 64 for a winning total of 12-under-par at the Mount Malayarat Golf and Country Club. He won $31,500.
Local hope Gerald Rosales finished a distant second after a 67 while overnight leader Jason Dawes of Australia was disappointed to finish in third place following a 72. Americans Ron Won and Bryan Saltus shared fourth position on 282 while Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit, who was second overnight, slipped out of the title chase with a 76 to share sixth place with Malaysia’s Danny Chia, Filipino amateur Juvic Pagunsan, Canadian Darren Griff and first round leader Andrew Buckle of Australia.
Perry Continues to Sizzle at the Colonial
At Forth Worth, Texas, Kenny Perry was hotter than the scorching Texas weather on Saturday, firing a third round six-under 64 at the $5.6 million Colonial to surge seven shots clear of US compatriots Billy Mayfair and Steve Stricker.
With temperatures hovering around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Perry continued to set a blistering pace with a second consecutive bogey-free round at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, leaving the 2003 champion at 18-under and within sight of his second Colonial title in three years. Having set the 36-hole record of 128 at Hogan’s Alley on Friday, Perry began the day with a three-shot advantage and methodically pulled away from the wilting field with six birdies evenly split between the front and back nine. Mayfair and Stricker carded solid four-under 66s but could not stay with Perry, who leads the way despite eye problems that have made it difficult for him to see long distances.
Christina Kim Edges Ahead at LPGA Sybase Classic
In New Rochelle, New York, Christina Kim edged ahead of the pack Saturday, firing a one-under 70 for 207 and a one-shot lead after three rounds of the LPGA’s $1.25 million Sybase Classic. America’s Kim had started the day tied for the lead with Paula Creamer and South Korean’s Joo Mi Kim and Gloria Park.
Creamer, an 18-year-old rookie, Joo Mi Kim and Park all signed for 71s and finished the day one shot back on 208, with Heather Bowie and Malaysia’s Siew-Ai Lim a further stroke back.
Of the top 20 players on the leaderboard, only 11 were able to break par Saturday, with seven of those being by just one stroke.
After a bogey on the par-three, 197-yard fourth, Christina Kim came back with birdies at five and eight before a parring the entire back nine.
