Jakarta, July 4: New Zealand’s Michael Hendry propelled his name into the spotlight today with an emphatic seven-stroke victory in the US$1 million Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta. The 30-year-old from North Harbour started the day with a one stroke lead and fired a flawless final round seven-under-par 65 at Damai Indah Golf - Pantai Indah Kapuk Course to finish comfortably ahead of second placed Liang Wenchong from China.
Liang came in with a 71, in the fifth event of the season on OneAsia.
Unheralded Hendry killed off the challenge of his nearest competitors with a brilliant run of seven birdies on six, eight, nine, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
It is far and away the biggest victory of Hendry’s career and is the culmination of an outstanding period of form. He won the Fiji Open two weeks ago and was a back-to-back winner of titles on New Zealand’s domestic Tour in May. He currently leads the money list in New Zealand - an award he claimed last year for the first time.
“This feels surreal. It will take some time to sink in. It is a very emotional moment for me,” said Hendry.
He finished with a four-round aggregate of 19-under-par 269 and earned a cheque for US$180,000.
“I caught fire out there today. I have worked really hard on my game over the past year and it has paid off. I know my mortgage is now going to be a lot smaller,” added the Kiwi.
As he walked off the 18th several of his fellow professionals, including Gareth Paddison, Josh Carmichael and Brendan Stuart, performed the Haka – the traditional Maori dance made famous by the All blacks - in Hendry's honour.
Hendry started his sporting career in cricket. He played cricket for New Zealand’s under-19 cricket team and later represented Auckland before opting to focus on golf in his early 20s. He turned professional in 2004.
Liang was hot favourite to take the title having won the season opening Luxehills Chengdu Open in China on OneAsia in April. He also claimed last year’s Midea China Classic.
The 31-year-old birdied the second hole to draw level with playing partner Hendry. The tournament developed into a two horse race on the front nine but Liang uncharacteristically fell back with three bogeys on the trot from the 10th.
“Michael was just too good today. Even if I played well I don’t think I could have caught him,” said Liang, who won US$102,000. He made four birdies and three bogeys.
Australian Anthony Brown and Taiwan’s Hsieh Tung-shu finished in a tie for third, nine strokes behind Hendry, after shooting rounds of 70 and 71 respectively.
Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, winner of this event in 2005, was a stroke further back with Singaporean Mardan Mamat and Ronald Harvey from Canada.
Thaworn carded a 68 while Mamat shot a 71 and Harvey returned 66.
Japan’s Shingo Katayama, a five timer winner of the Japan Tour Money List, finished in a tie for 12th. He closed with a 70 to finish the tournament on five under par.
The burgeoning OneAsia will stage 11 tournaments with a total of more than US$12 million in prize money this season.
This week's event was showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.
Leading final round scores:
(Par 72)
269 – Michael Hendry (NZL) 70-67-67-65
276 – Liang Wenchong (CHN) 70-64-71-71
278 – Anthony Brown (AUS) 67-69-72-70, Hsieh Tung-shu (TPE) 68-70-69-71
279 – Ronald Harvey (CAN) 69-73-71-66, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-68-72-68, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 71-69-68-71
281 – Wu Kangchun (CHN) 73-73-66-69
282 – Brad Kennedy (AUS) 73-73-68-68, Martin Andrew (AUS) 70-72-70-70, Simon Yates (SCO) 71-72-68-71
Selected:
283 – Shingo Katayama (JPN) 72-65-76-70
- Ends -
About OneAsia
OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize elite tournament opportunities in Asia-Pacific. The Founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. The mission of OneAsia is not just to allow the region’s best players to gain access to more events, but to ultimately provide them with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour, thus retaining the best golfing talent in the region without compromising their development.
For more information, please contact:
Janice Lee Fang
PR & Media Manager - OneAsia
Mobile: +65 8268 8155
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Simon Wilson
Media Manager - World Sport Group
Phone: +65 9127 5419
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