Aussie
THE CLEARWATER BAY OPEN REVIEW
Rules Following the footsteps of inaugural champion Daniel Nisbet, Lleyton Hewitt lookalike James Marchesani becomes the second successive Australian winner of the PGA TOUR-China’s Clearwater Bay Open, writes Louie Chan.
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a rchesani pips E n g l a n d ’s C a l l u m Ta r r e n a f t e r a n engag i ng f i na l- d ay battle at The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong to earn a full card on PGA TOUR-China in 2018. He sank a pressurepacked 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the first title of his pro career in Hong Kong. The Australian, who started the day 4-under as one of three co-leaders, shot a 3-under-par 67 at The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club for a 7-under total of 273 and a one-stroke victory over playing partner Callum Tarren (68) of England. Eugene Wong, whose father is from Hong Kong, shot a best-of-the-day 66 to secure third place, at 4-under, the Canadian’s best PGA TOUR-China result since 2015 when he finished fifth on the Order of Merit before playing the 2016 Web.com Tour. Australia’s Chris Wood (67) and New Zealand’s Fraser Wilkin (67) tied for fourth on 3-under, one ahead of Hong Kong No. 1 Jason Hak, a Clearwater Bay ambassador, who shot a 68 to share sixth place with American Joseph Gunerman (69). Marchesani spent much of the day trailing Tarren, and the round became a battle of two 27-year-olds looking for their breakthrough wins
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as pros, with the Australian snaring an eagle on the par-5 15th and a birdie on the par-5 18th to eventually triumph. “I feel pretty good for a pretty good reason because the trophy’s mine. It’s been a long week but a very good one, and I’m very pleased to notch that first win,” said Marchesani, who tied for second in August’s Fiji International sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia. “I’ve had a couple of close looks at other tournaments, but the game was feeling good coming into this week and now I’ve come to the top. It was a good battle on the back, and Callum certainly pushed me to get that win.” Marchesani’s looks have drawn several comparisons to Lleyton Hewitt - he admitted: “I hear that all the time!” - and he showed similar grit to the Australian tennis legend by clawing back four strokes on the back nine. Marchesani, who played four years of college golf at Oklahoma City University, shot two birdies and four bogeys - including three in a row from the No. 5 – on the front nine to lie 2-under, while Tarren made the turn at 6-under. However, the gap closed to two after No. 10 as the Australian sank an 18-foot birdie putt and Tarren triple putted for a bogey. Marchesani then hit his tee shot on the par-3 14th to six feet and made another birdie before drawing level with an eagle on 15, as Tarren birdied.
HKGOLFER.COM