ASIA-PACIFIC SENIORS AMATEUR
Down
to the
Wire
Shingo Matsumoto claimed his first Asia-Pacific Seniors Amateur win following a gripping play-off at Discovery Bay, writes Alex Jenkins.
J
Photography by Daniel Wong
apan's Shingo Matsumoto emerged victorious at the Asia-Pacific Seniors Amateur Championship at Discovery Bay Golf Club last month after outlasting Andrew McKechnie of New Zealand in a gruelling sudden-death play-off. Matsumoto, 60, made a solid par four on the sixth extra hole – the demanding third on the Diamond Course at the cliff-top Lantau course – to consign McKechnie, who could only bogey, to second place after the pair had tied in regulation play on a three-day total of five-over 218. Overnight leader Gordon Claney of Australia finished a shot outside the play-off in solo third place, while the in-form Doug Williams, who won the Hong Kong Open Seniors Amateur Championship at Fanling the week before, tied for fourth, a further stroke adrift. Alan Sutcliffe, the long-time Hong Kong Golf Club member and Hong Kong international was on hand to
present Williams with his eponymous salver, the prize for finishing as the leading Hong Kong player. "Andrew is a great player and I was fortunate to come out on top," said Matsumoto, a two-time Japan Seniors Amateur champion. "But I'm very happy. It feels great to win after such a long battle and I feel very proud to have my name on the championship trophy." Australia won the team event by two strokes from New Zealand on a total of 871. Japan placed third on 895, while Hong Kong picked up fifth spot on 936. Kapil Dev, the legendary cricketing all-rounder, had a day to forget. The Indian started the day just a shot off the pace, but a lacklustre 80 meant he finished down the field in 13th. The historic Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Championship is an Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation event and was hosted in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Golf Association for the third time.
REED ENDS 46-YEAR WAIT It might have taken nearly half a century but former Hong Kong Golf Club Captain Peter Reed was rewarded for a fine tee shot as he recorded the third hole-in-one of his life during the first round of the Asia-Pacific Seniors Amateur Championship. Reed, whose last ace was 46 years ago when he was just 17, used a 4-hybrid to make short work of the the 185-yard eighth hole on the Jade Course during his
Shingo Matsumoto, a two-time Japan Seniors champion, was a very proud man after claiming the Asia-Pacific title for the first time
opening round of 82. “Unfortunately I didn’t see it go in,” said Reed, who finished in a tie for 44th place overall. “The ball looked like it was hanging on the edge of the cup but when I got up to the green it had disappeared!”
60
HK GOLFER・DEC 2014
HKGOLFER.COM
HKGOLFER.COM
HK GOLFER・DEC 2014
61
Runner-up Andrew McKechnie of New Zealand
The winning Australian team
Former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev in action on the final day
Doug Williams was Hong Kong's best performer
INDIVIDUAL FINAL RESULTS
Hong Kong's John Ball tees off on the sixth hole, Jade Course
TEAM FINAL RESULTS
1 Shingo Matsumoto*
JPN
73 74 71
218
1 Australia
284 289 298
871
2 Andrew McKechnie
NZL
75 71 72
218
2 New Zealand
295
873
3 Gordon Claney
AUS
69 75 75
219
3 Japan
298 302 295
895
4= Doug Williams
HKG
73 74 73
220
4 Philippines
314 304 315
933
John Batley
NZL
74 75 71
220
5 Hong Kong – 1
314
936
Michael Barltrop
NZL
73 74 73
220
6 India
312 314 329
955
Paul Maslen
AUS
71 75 74
220
7 Hong Kong – 2
321
322
323
966
8 Vincent Clark
AUS
72 74 75
221
8 Chinese Taipei
324
339
341
1004
9 Takashi Kamei
JPN
71 78 73
222
9 Korea
331 340 334
1005
10= John Ambridge
ENG
75 78 71
224
10 Singapore
350
335
334
1019
Denis Dale
AUS
72 78 74
224
11 Pakistan
337
345 347
1029
Eddie Bagtas
PHL
76 72 76
224
12 Guam
378
380 396
1154
290
315
288
307
* Denotes play-off winner
62
HK GOLFER・DEC 2014
HKGOLFER.COM