INDIA?S BHULLAR AND CHINA?S LIANG QUALIFY ALONGSIDE AUSTRALIANS PILKADARIS AND STEWART

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