Casey O’Toole of the United States dominated the PGM Tiara Championship when he closed with a sparkling eight-under-par 64 to win his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) title by 11 shots on Saturday.
The 25-year-old O’Toole, who held a four-shot lead heading into the final round, fired nine birdies against a lone bogey to win on 21-under-par 267 total at the RM200,000 (approx. US$50,000) ADT event.
He picked up a winner’s cheque of US$8,127, stretching his lead on the ADT Order of Merit to US$52,393, and received six Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points courtesy of his career breakthrough victory at the Tiara Melaka Golf and Country Club.
Sejun Yoon, also of the United States, capped his best finish on the ADT after signing for a second consecutive 71 to take second place while Filipino Mars Pucay (69), Finland’s Janne Kaske (71) and Bangladeshi Shakhawat Sohel (71) shared third on 279.
Thai duo Nirun Sae-Ueng and Chanat Sakulpolphaisan settled two shots back in sixth after posting rounds of 71 and 67 respectively at the PGM Tiara Championship, which is the 25th leg of the ADT schedule this season.
O’Toole, who has notched eight other top-10s this season, proved his rising star credentials with a final round fireworks display which saw him tie his personal best 18-hole score and set a new 72-hole record for himself. He also matched the ADT’s largest winning margin record with his 11-shot triumph.
“I did everything really well today and I made a lot of nice putts. My putter was definitely the difference for me today,” said the Thailand-based O’Toole, who needed only 26 putts.
O’Toole, who hailed from Alabama, got off to a flying start with five birdies in seven holes before stumbling with a bogey to turn in 32. He added four more birdies on 10, 13, 15 and 18 coming home which ensured a victorious walk up the 18th fairway.
“I was surprised that I actually felt very calm and relaxed this morning. I think I just got myself in a good position and I was hitting the ball well enough to give myself chances.
“This is my second year playing in Asia and it has been a great experience. Playing on the ADT has helped my game tremendously and it also allowed me to grow as a player, both physically and mentally,” added O’Toole.
O’Toole will head to Singapore for the Asian Tour’s World Classic Championship at Laguna National next week, which he has entered through a sponsor’s invitation.
With the Olympic Games looming in 2016 where golf will be reintroduced as a medal sport, players in the region could earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro by earning OWGR points through the Asian Tour and ADT.
The ADT is celebrating its sixth season where it has grown immensely from five events in the first year in 2010 to a record 27 tournaments in 2015.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com
Leading final round scores:
267 – Casey O’TOOLE (USA) 67-67-69-64
278 – Sejun YOON (USA) 72-64-71-71
279 – Mars PUCAY (PHI) 66-70-74-69, Janne KASKE (FIN) 70-68-70-71, Shakhawat SOHEL (BAN) 71-72-65-71
281 – Chanat SAKULPOLPHAISAN (THA) 72-71-71-67, Nirun SAE-UENG (THA) 73-69-68-71
282 – Andrew WIRAWAN (INA) 68-72-75-67
283 – Airil Rizman ZAHARI (MAS) 69-73-74-67, LIM Eng Seng (MAS) 71-69-73-70, Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA) 69-70-70-74, Shaaban HUSSIN (MAS) 73-69-67-74
