FILIPINO ACE AUNZO STOLLS TO VICTORY IN ANCORA CLASSIC
Posted on December 3, 2011 by Gopy | Categories: News, Press Release | link
Jakarta, December 3:
Ferdie Aunzo completed a brave wire-to-wire victory in the Ancora Classic presented by PGN today to move a step closer to fulfilling his potential in the professional game.
The Filipino fired a three-under-par 69 at Emeralda Golf and Country Club to win the ASEAN PGA Tour’s season-ending event by five strokes.
Malaysian Nicholas Fung took second place for the third tournament on the trot after carding a 68.
Thailand’s Panuwat Muenlek also shot 68 to finish a stroke further back in third place.
Aunzo suffered a confidence sapping loss last week on the Philippine Golf Tour when after leading the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship going into the final round he closed out with an 82.
He used that as a valuable learning experience and showed no such signs of wavering this week as he shot rounds of 66, 68, 71 and 69 for finish the tournament 14 under par.
The Filipino had started the day with a five shot lead.
“I am so happy. I have won once before in the Philippines in 2009 but this is a much bigger win as it’s on a regional tour. I felt confident all week and I felt the big difference this week was that I was able to control my irons,” said Aunzo, who received a cheque for US$8,126.
The former caddie had the perfect send off from the amateur ranks in 2008 when he won the Philippine Amateur Championship.
Since then great things have been expected from him and today he showed what he is capable of.
He made six birdies and three bogeys in the final round and shook off the chasing pack with three birdies in a row from the sixth.
Fung continued his remarkable run after firing five birdies and dropping just one shot.
“No one could get near Ferdie this week. He was too good. I am really happy with my form and I hope I can take it through into the new year,” said Fung.
The Malaysian’s strong finish allowed him to finish the season in second place on the Order of Merit with earnings of US$19,298.
Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat took top spot with winnings of US$24,001. Wisut, who won the Palembang Musi Championship and Sabah Masters back to back, came in with a 69 to finish equal 12th.
Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang carded a 72 to tie for ninth on three under.
This week marked the first time Choo had competed as a professional after a stellar amateur career which saw him win the Putra Cup individual title twice, this year and in 2006, and play college golf for Washington University.
The 2012 ASEAN PGA Tour schedule will be announced shortly and will be the circuit’s sixth season.
Leading final round scores:
Par 72
274 – Ferdie Aunzo (PHI) 66 68 71 69
279 – Nicholas Fung (MAS) 72 69 70 68
280 – Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 70 72 70 68
281 – Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 72 67 73 69, Pravee Visalkit (THA) 68 70 72 71
282 – Pijit Petchkasem (THA) 71 69 73 69, Michael Bibat (PHI) 74 69 69 70
284 – Kheng Khor Hwai (MAS) 67 71 72 74
285 – Choo Tze Huang (SIN) 69 70 74 72, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 70 72 68 75
286 – Varut Chomchalam (THA) 68 73 74 71
287 – Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 73 72 73 69, George Gandranata (a) (INA) 68 73 76 70
288 – Anthony Fernando (PHI) 73 72 72 71, Koh Dengshan (SIN) 72 74 70 72, Tanatchan Puaktes (THA) 72 69 74 73, Mitchell Slorach (SIN) 70 73 71 74. (SW)