May 10: Five years after bursting onto the scene with five wins on the Big Easy Tour, South African Ian Snyman (main image) finally broke through on the global scene with a resounding two-shot win in the US$500,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open – his maiden win on the Asian Tour in 83 career starts.

The popular, soft-spoken 29-year-old made only three bogeys through the week to reach 15-under total after Sunday’s round of three-under par 69. That was enough to deny Mexico’s Santiago De la Fuente (67) and Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung (68), two players also searching for their first win on the Tour.

Chinese Taipei’s Wei-lun Chang (67) was the best-placed among local stars, tied fourth at -12, where he was joined by overnight joint leader, Filipino Lloyd Jefferson Go (72) and American Chase Koepka (71).

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai (67) and Danthai Boonma (68) were tied seventh at -11, while American John Catlin improved to get into the top-10 with a 66, the best round of the day.

Ian Snyman presented with the winner’s trophy by Lin Po-shih, President of Taiwan Glass Group and Chairman of Taifeng Golf Club.

“This is crazy. Two months ago, I was in the shower, and I was thinking, ‘Will I ever win again?’ You work hard and you run out of ideas about what to do and what to change. And here I am today, and we have managed to do it,” said a relieved Snyman, who climbed to No3 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit with the $90,000 winning cheque.

“And it was just solid. I felt like there was very little amount of luck involved out there for me. This week, I managed to swing good, and the putting was good. I was just in a good mindset.

“Obviously, I was hoping not to wait for five years for my first win here, but to be honest with you, I haven’t had a lot of chances on the Asian Tour. I’ve had good weeks, but not weeks where I felt like I was in control. There were always some poor shots. But this week was just solid, solid, solid. I’m glad I won feeling good, because sometimes you feel good about your game and you still don’t win.”

There was a moment late into the round when things looked dicey for the Belville resident.

Santiago de la Fuente of Mexico. Pictures courtesy Taiwan PGA.

Having made only two bogeys in the 68 holes, Snyman hit his tee shot way short on the long par-3 15th hole, and then compounded the error with a poor bunker shot that left him with a long putt for par. He left the first putt nearly 20 feet short and looked set for a debilitating double bogey, before hitting a perfectly-read putt for a ‘crucial’ bogey.

At almost the same time, De la Fuente smashed a good-looking second shot on the par-5 17th, but it bounced and went into the bushes behind the green. The 2024 Latin American Amateur champion needed to take a penalty drop and made a bogey. He birdied the 18th to record his best finish on the Asian Tour, but the mistake on the 17th cost him dear.

Matthew Cheung of Hong Kong. Pictures courtesy: Taiwan PGA.

De le Fuente took the bogey on the 17th in his stride.

“It was a crazy week. I struggled a little bit at the beginning of the week, made some silly mistakes. But as the week went on, I understood the course a bit more and how I needed to play,” said De la Fuente.

“The 17th is going to hurt for a long time, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be for me this week. Ian did a great job, and he played amazing this week. I will have my time and I will have my day.

“This is my second year on the Asian Tour and the first when I have a full card and I can pick and choose my tournaments. So, I am happy to get a good result here and put up points which will help me secure my card for the next season.”

Cheung, who became a father for the first time two weeks ago and said he played in Taiwan only because his wife asked him to, also recorded his best finish on the Asian Tour.

“I tried a new golf ball and a new putter and we had a new baby in the past couple of weeks! So, yes…a lot of positives,” said the 29-year-old.

“I was really good at staying patient all day. I hit a couple of really good shots in the middle there. Honestly, I wasn’t hitting it too great on the back nine, but I made some really good up and downs to keep myself in it, and I chipped in on the 17th, which was a bit of a cherry on top.”

The Asian Tour will return to action in two weeks with the Kolon The 68th Korea Open Golf Championship at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club from May 21-24.