Cavite, Philippines: Newcomer Oscar Zetterwall became the first Swede to win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) when he closed with a second consecutive four-under-par 68 to seal a three-shot victory at the US$60,000 ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Zetterwall, playing in his first season on the region’s burgeoning Tour, fired five birdies against a lone bogey to earn his breakthrough with a nine-under-par 279 total at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club.
His playing partner Toru Nakajima of Japan took second place following a 71 while overnight leader Kasidit Lepkurte, the only Thai to make the halfway cut, posted a 76 to settle for third place on 283 with South African Mathiam Keyser (68) and American John Catlin (70).
Zetterwall took home the winner’s prize purse of US$10,500 and earned six Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points courtesy of his victory, which marked his second professional win and first in Asia since joining the play-for-pay ranks in 2012.
“I hit my driver solid and I kept the ball in play. I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdies out there. This win means a lot to me. It makes me want to keep playing. I know it will also give me better chances and confidence to advance my career in future.
“I had a good putt for birdie on 12 where I sank an eight-footer downhill from left to right in the wind. I gained a three-shot lead from there and that gave me some confidence heading into the last few holes,” said the Bangkok-based Zetterwall.
Trailing by four shots heading into the round, Zetterwall nailed two birdies in his opening four holes before dropping a shot on fifth. He added birdies on eighth, 12 and 15 to seal the deal.
“I was a little nervous when I know I was in the lead. There were a lot of players chasing me but I stayed calm and told myself that I need to move to 10-under to have a chance of winning. That was the goal which I kept telling myself and I am glad that pull me through,” added the Swede.
The ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic is the 11th leg of the 2016 ADT schedule and also the Tour’s second stop in the Philippines this season.
The ADT will continue to reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2017.
Like all other ADT events, the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic will offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which will be key for players vying to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August.
Leading final round scores:
279 - Oscar ZETTERWALL (SWE) 71 72 68 68
282 - Toru NAKAJIMA (JPN) 73 70 68 71
283 - Mathiam KEYSER (RSA) 74 72 69 68, John CATLIN (USA) 73 70 70 70, Kasidit LEPKURTE (THA) 71 72 64 76
284 - Guido VAN DER VALK (NED) 73 68 73 70
285 - Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN) 74 69 72 70, Nick SHERWOOD (USA) 74 75 66 70, Clyde MONDILLA (PHI) 77 70 67 71
286 - Paul HARRIS (USA) 72 73 74 67, Samuel CHIEN (USA) 72 72 72 70, Michael BIBAT (PHI) 70 75 71 70, Marvin DUMANDAN (PHI) 72 70 73 71, Dino A. GIACOMAZZI (USA) 73 75 65 73
287 - Jarin TODD (USA) 72 71 73 71, Janne KASKE (FIN) 71 71 73 72, Danny MASRIN (INA) 68 72 71 76
288 - Jobim CARLOS (PHI) 78 72 74 64, Rufino BAYRON (PHI) 75 73 67 73, James Ryan LAM (PHI) 72 71 70 75
289 - Orlan SUMCAD (PHI) 73 73 73 70, Shunya TAKEYASU (JPN) 76 73 71 69
