Singapore, November 14: Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano finally won the long-delayed Barclays Singapore Open after he pipped Philippines’ Juvic Pagunsan to the title by winning at the second play-off hole on Monday.
Both players finished the weather-shortened US$6 million championship, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, tied on 14-under-par 199 after the third and final round at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course.
They hit their second shots onto the fairways at the sudden-death play-off when torrential rains and lighting struck again, leaving the two to resume their battle on Monday.
When play finally resumed, it was the Spaniard who finally got the better of the Filipino who could have delivered the knockout blow had he not missed a short birdie putt at the first play-off hole.
“It was very close. I thought I w
as going to make my first putt (on the first play-off hole),” said Pagunsan, whose lone Asian Tour victory was in 2007.
After hitting their third shots to within 10 feet of the pin at the second play-off hole, Pagunsan missed his birdie putt while Fernandez-Castano reeled in his to end his three-year title drought.
“I read the putt really good and hit my putt really good but the ball did not break much when it was close to the hole it went straight when it was supposed to turn left,” said Pagunsan who earned some measure of consolation by leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit with his runner-up finish.
For Fernandez-Castano, it was a welcome relief, having squandered a four-shot lead during the final round and being able to prevail at the end.
“It has been a great relief, especially the way I played yesterday, having a four-shot lead and spoiling it all. It has been a tough year and I got a monkey off my back. It has been three years without a victory and it means a lot to me,” said Fernandez-Castano.
The Spaniard also described his last 12 hours as one of the most nerve-wreaking ones he has ever experienced and credited his mental strength for helping him to keep his composure.
“It was a tough morning and also a tough night because I did not get much sleep. It’s probably the most nervous I have ever been on a golf course. It’s a strange feeling. I have won four times on Tour in many play-offs but I have never been as nervous. I think the first suspension in the play-off helped me a bit,” said Fernandez-Castano.
“I was feeling the pressure and I managed to control myself. I got lucky when Juvic missed his birdie putt on the first play-off hole,” added Fernandez-Castano.
The Spaniard tipped his hat to his challenger and credited him for making the Barclays Singapore Open an enthralling contest.
“He (Juvic) had an amazing tournament and he is a great player. I know him because he was in the heat of the battle when Jose Maria (Lara) won in Hong Kong. I was watching on television and thought wow that boy can play,” said Fernandez-Castano.
As for Pagunsan, he will now head to the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia, which is just across the border from Singapore to compete in the US$2 million tournament, which is also sanctioned with the European Tour for the first time.
“I work hard at every tournament and I prepare myself well for every tournament. Who knows, with this finish, maybe Juvic can play the big events now,” said Pagunsan who will now get the opportunity to compete at the British Open and WGC Cadillac Championship next season should he win the Order of Merit title at the end of the season.
Leading scores after round 3 of the Barclays Singapore Open being played at the par 71, 7357 Yards Serapong course (a- denotes amateur):
199 - Gonzalo FDEZ-CASTANO (ESP) 66-61-72, Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 66-66-67.
(Fernandez-Castano wins title with birdie on the second play-off hole)
200 - Anthony KIM (USA) 70-66-64, Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 72-63-65.
201 - Joost LUITEN (NED) 69-65-67, Danny LEE (NZL) 68-65-68, Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA) 62-68-71.
202 - James MORRISON (ENG) 62-68-72.
203 - Tjaart VAN DER WALT (RSA) 71-65-67, Justin ROSE (ENG) 69-65-69.
204 - Steve WEBSTER (ENG) 69-69-66, Anders HANSEN (DEN) 69-64-71.
205 - Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 65-72-68, Himmat RAI (IND) 70-69-66, Shane LOWRY (IRL) 67-70-68, Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) 67-69-69, Graeme MCDOWELL (NIR) 68-71-66, Richie RAMSAY (SCO) 69-65-71.
206 - Miguel Angel JIMENEZ (ESP) 73-65-68, Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 75-63-68, David HORSEY (ENG) 69-69-68, Angelo QUE (PHI) 71-68-67.
207 - Ernie ELS (RSA) 72-66-69, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 70-68-69, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 70-67-70, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 72-64-71, Scott BARR (AUS) 68-71-68, Y.E. YANG (KOR) 63-71-73, Fredrik ANDERSSON HED (SWE) 68-66-73, Rick KULACZ (AUS) 70-69-68, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 69-70-68, Michael HOEY (NIR) 67-66-74.
Selected scores
208 - Phil MICKELSON (USA) 71-67-70, LAM Chih Bing (SIN) 66-72-70