American golfer Bo Van Pelt went on a birdie blitz to score a six-shot win in the US$6.1mil CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia at the Mines Resort and Golf Club yesterday.
The 36-year-old Van Pelt, who even quit the sport momentarily in the early years of his career, pocketed his biggest pay cheque of US$1.3mil with a stunning final round of seven-under 64 for a winning total of 23-under 261 in the co-sanctioned US PGA Tour and Asian Tour showpiece.
It was a tournament record, bettering the previous tally of 18-under when another American Ben Crane won the inaugural title last year.
Van Pelt, who was leading fellow American Jeff Overton by one shot at the start of the day, started well with two birdies on the third and fourth holes.
There was more to come as Van Pelt’s exquisite performance conjured three more birdies over four holes from the 11th onwards to pull away from Overton.
The smiles were already on his face as he strolled past the gallery after getting his final birdie on the 17th.
“I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. I get to do what I love to do for a living.
“It was funny. I got here on Tuesday morning, went to the hotel, got showered and then went to the range.
“My swing felt good right at the first warm up and I kind of continued that all week and had confidence with what I wanted to do with my golf swing,” said the delighted Van Pelt.
After missing on several opportunities to add to his maiden title in the US in 2009, Van Pelt was delighted he finally nailed it by sticking closely to his game plan all week.
“I had a chance to win a
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“I wanted to do a better job when I was having the lead and I took a lot of satisfaction with the way I played today,” said Van Pelt, who revealed he gave up golfing once.
“I had to give it up to realise how much I loved it.
“I was in college, probably about 20 or 21, it just wasn’t in my heart anymore. I didn’t want to put in the work anymore.
“I didn’t pick up a club for over two months, then got the itch to start playing again and the rest is history.
“I’ve watched other guys coming down 18 with a big lead and I thought that would be fun some day if I could do that and I did,” added Van Pelt, ranked 39th in the world.
Overton stayed with Van Pelt through the front nine but blew his chances after bogeying the 12th and 13th to eventually settle for a distant second place with a closing 69.
Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson finished third on 16-under 268 after a three-under 68 while India’s Jeev Milkha Singh was the best Asian in tied 10th place on 271.
Overton, who featured in the Ryder Cup for the US team last year, tipped his cap to the new champion.
“That was one of the best rounds of golf I’ve seen,” said Overton, who conceded his slip-ups on 12th and 13th proved costly.
“It was kind of weird. I had a long putt and he had a chip. I started thinking about three putting and I went on to three putt. I got into my own way a little.
“Then I put in a nervous bad swing on the next hole. But at the end of the day, the guy, he played one of the best round of golf anybody has all year,” said Overton, who settled for a cheque of US$550,000.
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