JAKARTA, March 31 - Korean Choi Ho-sung survived a dramatic three-hour storm delay on the final hole and drained an eight-foot birdie putt for a fourth-round 67 and a two-stroke victory in the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship on Sunday.
Choi finished the U.S. $1 million tournament at tournament at 19 under, holding off a late challenge by Filipino Juvic Pagunsan (66), overnight leader Kaname Yokoo (70) of Japan and Korean youngster Song Young-han (68).
"I can't believe it," a beaming Choi said after sinking his final putt and as lightning jagged through the gloom around the Arnold Palmer-designed Emeralda Golf Club course.
"I thought we would might not be able to finish. I really didn't want to have to do it all over again tomorrow."
This tournament, and the season-opening Thailand Open a fortnight ago, were co-sanctioned by both OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, bringing together one of the most powerful Asia-Pacific fields ever assembled. Earnings count towards both money lists, and a win at either gives the champion status on both tours.
Choi pulled out of the Thailand event after the first round, unable to cope with the stifling heat and drenching humidity, but he coped much better under similar circumstances in Jakarta.
"I was better prepared," he said. "This time I had enough towels and ice, and I used an umbrella around the course."
A shot behind the lead overnight and playing in the final group, Choi made his intentions clear from the start with a slick eagle on the first that took him to the top of the leaderboard.
But an hour ahead Pagunsan was making his charge for the title, turning at four under and then finishing birdie-birdie to give the 40-year-old Choi something to think about.
"I didn't expect to be making such a strong challenge, but as I finished I saw Choi had dropped a shot on 15 and suddenly I was in the lead," said Pagunsan.
A poor read by Choi led to that bogey, but he steadied the ship with a clutch par putt on 16, and then a birdie on 17 before the storm broke.
When play finally resumed, Choi split the fairway with his final drive and then stiffed his approach for what became a routine birdie and the winning $180,000 cheque.
Song, 22, runner up at OneAsia Q-School last year, birdied the last to grab a share of second and his best finish in a professional tournament. Yokoo also birdied the last to finish joint runner-up.
Augusta-bound Thai Thaworn Wiratchant (68), the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, guaranteed himself a good payday with a share of seventh place at 15 under, along with former OneAsia money list winners Scott Strange (71) of Australia and China's Liang Wenchong (69).
Andik Mauludin, the only Indonesian player that made it into he weekend, finished in 39th place. His final round 70 showed his consistency during the tournament, finishing with eight-under 280.
Scores after round four of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship being played at the par 72, 6,581-metre (7,198-yard) Emeralda Golf Club course:
269 - CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 67-70-65-67
271 - Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 69-71-65-66, SONG Young-han (KOR) 65-66-72-68, Kaname YOKOO (JPN) 68-66-67-70
272 - Hideto TANIHARA (JPN) 66-68-70-68, Toshinori MUTO (JPN) 67-65-70-70
273 - Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 71-68-66-68, LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 66-69-69-69, Scott STRANGE (AUS) 68-67-67-71, Yuta IKEDA (JPN) 67-68-67-71
Selected:
280 - Andik MAULUDIN (INA) 70-71-69-70
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