INTERNATIONAL FINAL QUALIFYING – ASIA
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
1 April 2009, Sentosa, Singapore: India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, one of the Asian Tour’s brightest young talents, fulfilled a childhood dream when he carded a four under-par 67 to win International Final Qualifying – Asia and book his place in The Open Championship 2009.
A two-day total of six under-par 136 ensured that he will be competing against the world’s elite on Turnberry’s Ailsa course this July.
China’s Liang Wen-chong scored a formidable five under-par 66 to secure his second Open appearance while Australia’s Terry Pilkadaris had to endure a nervous wait before learning that he had also earned his ticket to the world’s oldest Major after a 72 in the second round.
Australia’s Tim Stewart, meanwhile, had to survive a gripping play-off to earn the last of the four berths after nine players were tied at two-under at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course.
Starting the day in tied-eighth and four shots off the lead, Bhullar knew that he had to play the game of his life in order to stand any chance of making the trip to Scotland.
“I actually set a target of five-under for today, although I managed to finish in four-under. But it’s okay. I’m really happy now that I’m on my way to The Open,” said a visibly delighted Bhullar.
The 20-year-old from Kapurthala has posted three top-10s in the last three events that he has played on the Asian Tour and was pleased that he had translated that form into an Open place.
“I’ve been watching The Open since I was a kid and to actually get to play there is truly a dream come true,” he added.
Liang, the first mainland Chinese player to play in all four rounds at The Open last year is also delighted with the chance to return again.
“I played really well today. My tee shots and putts were all spot-on and I couldn’t ask for a better performance.”
Pilkadaris, who made his maiden Open appearance at Carnoustie in 2007, was a relieved man after ending the 36-holes with a performance that he thought had cost him his chance of qualification.
“I thought I had missed my chance with the way I played today. I put myself under lots of pressure by hitting into the trees with my drives and was always scrambling to recover. I had to wait around for a couple of hours and finally when the news came, I’m really relieved,” said the three-time Asian Tour winner.
After closing with a second-round 70, Tim Stewart overcame eight other players in a nerve-wracking play-off to decide the fourth and final slot for The Open.
“It’s pretty heart-stopping stuff out there. I’ve already booked a taxi to the airport and was called back for the play-off.”
Overnight leader, Mikko Ilonen of Finland missed out on his fifth appearance at The Open when he carded a disappointing 77 to finish in tied-20th place on 142.
The full IFQ – Asia entry list, draw and results can be found online at Opengolf.com.
Final Scores:
|
Pos |
Player |
Country |
R1 |
R2 |
Total |
To par |
Status |
|
1 |
BHULLAR, Gaganjeet |
India |
69 |
67 |
136 |
-6 |
Qualified |
|
2 |
LIANG, Wen-Chong |
China |
72 |
66 |
138 |
-4 |
Qualified |
|
3 |
PILKADARIS, Terry |
Australia |
67 |
72 |
139 |
-3 |
Qualified |
|
T4 |
NOH, Seung-Yul |
Korea |
68 |
72 |
140 |
-2 |
|
|
T4 |
TAKAYAMA, Tadahiro |
Japan |
69 |
71 |
140 |
-2 |
|
|
T4 |
NAM, Young |
USA |
70 |
70 |
140 |
-2 |
|
|
T4 |
KONDO, Tomohiro |
Japan |
67 |
73 |
140 |
-2 |
|
|
T4 |
HORNE, Keith |
South Africa |
74 |
66 |
140 |
-2 |
|
|
T4 |
KIM, Hyung-Sung |
Korea |
71 |
69 |
140 |
-2 |
|
|
T4 |
STEWART, Tim |
Australia |
70 |
70 |
140 |
-2 |
Qualified |
|
T4 |
QUEK, Quincy (A) |
Singapore |
70 |
70 |
140 |
-2 |
|
|
T4 |
CHIA, Danny |
Malaysia |
68 |
72 |
140 |
-2 |
|
|
T13 |
DODT, Andrew |
Australia |
70 |
71 |
141 |
-1 |
|
|
T13 |
KRUGER, James |
South Africa |
70 |
71 |
141 |
-1 |
|
|
T13 |
MAMAT, Mardan |
Singapore |
68 |
73 |
141 |
-1 |
|
|
T13 |
KAPUR, Shiv |
India |
71 |
70 |
141 |
-1 |
|
|
T13 |
PRATHUMMANEE, Atthaphon |
Thailand |
69 |
72 |
141 |
-1 |
|
|
T13 |
JUNHASAVASDIKUL, Pariya |
Thailand |
71 |
70 |
141 |
-1 |
|
|
T13 |
WU, Ashun |
China |
71 |
70 |
141 |
-1 |
|
|
T20 |
WIRATCHANT, Thaworn |
Thailand |
71 |
71 |
142 |
Par |
|
|
T20 |
ILONEN, Mikko |
Finland |
65 |
77 |
142 |
Par |
|
|
T20 |
HEND, Scott |
Australia |
70 |
72 |
142 |
Par |
|
|
T20 |
LEONG, Ben |
Malaysia |
73 |
69 |
142 |
Par |
|
|
T20 |
KULACZ, Rick |
Australia |
71 |
71 |
142 |
Par |
|
|
T25 |
BROWN, Mitchell |
Australia |
68 |
75 |
143 |
+1 |
|
|
T25 |
LIEN, Lu-sen |
Taiwan |
73 |
70 |
143 |
+1 |
|
|
T27 |
LU, Wei-Chih |
Taiwan |
71 |
73 |
144 |
+2 |
|
|
T27 |
PUCAY, Mars |
Philippines |
74 |
70 |
144 |
+2 |
|
|
T29 |
CAROLAN, Tony |
Australia |
71 |
74 |
145 |
+3 |
|
|
T29 |
DUNN, Simon |
Scotland |
71 |
74 |
145 |
+3 |
|
|
T29 |
SALTUS, Bryan |
USA |
72 |
73 |
145 |
+3 |
|
|
T29 |
KANG, Anthony |
USA |
72 |
73 |
145 |
+3 |
|
|
T29 |
BLYTH, Adam |
Australia |
74 |
71 |
145 |
+3 |
|
|
T34 |
TOMIDA, Masaya |
Japan |
71 |
75 |
146 |
+4 |
|
|
T34 |
TSUKADA, Yoshinobu |
Japan |
74 |
72 |
146 |
+4 |
|
|
36 |
BASIC, Neven |
Australia |
72 |
75 |
147 |
+5 |
|
|
37 |
BLIZARD, Rohan |
Australia |
77 |
71 |
148 |
+6 |
|
|
T38 |
COETZEE, George |
South Africa |
77 |
72 |
149 |
+7 |
|
|
T38 |
FUKABORI, Keiichiro |
Japan |
72 |
77 |
149 |
+7 |
|
|
T38 |
BECK, Darren |
Australia |
72 |
77 |
149 |
+7 |
|
|
T38 |
BOTH, Marcus |
Australia |
79 |
70 |
149 |
+7 |
|
|
T38 |
PURSER, Mark |
New Zealand |
75 |
74 |
149 |
+7 |
|
|
T38 |
VAN DER VALK, Guido |
Netherlands |
75 |
74 |
149 |
+7 |
|
|
T44 |
YEH, Wei-Tze |
Taiwan |
75 |
75 |
150 |
+8 |
|
|
T44 |
LAM, Chih Bing |
Singapore |
73 |
77 |
150 |
+8 |
|
|
T44 |
PARK, Unho |
Australia |
74 |
76 |
150 |
+8 |
|
|
T47 |
ALI, Yasin |
England |
78 |
73 |
151 |
+9 |
|
|
T47 |
LEE, Richard |
New Zealand |
73 |
78 |
151 |
+9 |
|
|
T47 |
BRANSDON, David |
Australia |
72 |
79 |
151 |
+9 |
|
|
T50 |
GLEESON, David |
Australia |
78 |
74 |
152 |
+10 |
|
|
T50 |
FLINT, Gavin |
Australia |
71 |
81 |
152 |
+10 |
|
|
MURAKAMI, Artemio |
Philippines |
72 |
NR |
NR |
|||
|
PHADUNGSIL, Chinnarat |
Thailand |
77 |
NR |
NR |
|||
|
MOE, Zaw |
Myanmar |
77 |
NR |
NR |
|||
|
GANGJEE, Rahil |
India |
73 |
NR |
NR |
|||
|
LE VESCONTE, Adam |
Australia |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|||
|
QUE, Angelo |
Philippines |
74 |
NR |
NR |
|||
|
ISHIGAKI, Sushi |
Japan |
76 |
NR |
NR |
|||
|
RIZMAN, Airil |
Malaysia |
79 |
NR |
NR |
|||
|
MEESAWAT, Prom |
Thailand |
74 |
NR |
NR |