Steve Lewton, one of the most liked players on the Asian Tour, was third-time lucky as he carved out a popular victory at the Mandiri Indonesia Open 12 months ago. Story from the 2024 Asian Tour Yearbook.

The 41-year-old from England was tied second in the tournament the last previous years – finishing two shots behind India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar in 2022 and again two adrift of Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong the following year. It seemed he would miss out once again when he finished with a double bogey on the 72nd hole in regulation play in 2024, but a birdie on the second play-off hole ensured him a second Asian Tour title – one that came after a 10-year wait from his maiden win at the 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

At Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, Lewton started the final round one shot behind third-round leader Australian Aaron Wilkin, who had set a stunning course record 10-under 61 in the first round.

Lewton started Sunday with four straight pars before a terrific stretch of five birdies in the next six holes steered him clear of the field at 18-under par. Wilkin had begun with a bogey and was one-under par for the day after 10 holes, trailing Lewton by three shots, while promising Chinese rookie Sampson Zheng had moved to 16-under par with four birdies and a bogey.

And then it all started unravelling for Lewton. Bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes pulled him back to 16-under par. He then knuckled down to make successive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to go ahead by two shots once again, before the disaster on the 18th. He pulled his tee shot on the par-four final hole for the double bogey. He closed with a 68 to tie at the top with Zheng (68) and Wilkin (69).

Steve Lewton celebrates his victory last year. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

The first play-off, on the 18th hole, was halved with all three making bogies, but Lewton was the one closest with his par putt, which he missed from four feet. His heart was in his mouth moments later as his tee shot veered left towards the hazard on the second play-off hole, again on 18, but stopped on the cart path. From there, he hit a brilliant shot to eight feet and made the birdie putt.

A relieved Lewton said: “It’s just been a long, long time, and I feel like in the last three years, I’ve been playing quite good. So, it’s just nice to get over the line and win a tournament again, because it’s been a long time since I had that feeling.

“I thought when I got through 10 holes, I felt like I was coasting. And then I made it difficult again through 14, and then I birdied 16 and 17, and then I had a mini disaster on 18. I was just very happy to get it done the second time of asking in the play-off.

“I am very happy not to finish second again.”

Wilkin, who graduated from the 2023 Asian Development Tour, was disappointed not to have completed the job.

“I just didn’t play well enough to be fair, but I thought I handled myself pretty well,” said Wilkin. “I controlled my emotions until probably the play-off, but I reckon those were just poor swings.

“I still felt pretty good. It’s all good. I mean, I would have loved to win. It would have wrapped up my card for a couple of years, but I feel like the game is going in the right direction.”

Sampson Zheng just fell short of his first win last year in Indonesia. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Without doubt, Wilkin owned the opening day after his 61, when he broke Frank Nobilo’s 30-year course record.

“It was one of those days. I hit it close on four or five holes. I had a couple of easy tap-ins, then holed a few nice putts and didn’t make any mistakes. I will take that for sure. There was some lucky stuff, which I am going to take and run with it,” Wilkin said after Thursday’s round.

Zheng, who finished runner-up at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, showed his class once again with rounds of 65 and 63 on the first two days. A double bogey on the par-four eighth hole on Saturday was his only big mistake as he posted his best finish on the Asian Tour, bettering the tied fourth at International Series England.

“I kept myself in it the entire day. There were a couple of putts that just didn’t quite fall my way on the back nine. I gave myself opportunities all day, and that’s what I wanted to do, and I did that. So overall, happy with the performance,” the University of California, Berkeley graduate said.

Australia’s Travis Smyth (67) and China’s Liu Yanwei (68) were one shot adrift of the play-off, finishing tied fourth at 15-under-par total.