Sentosa, Singapore, August 19: It was a long wait back to the winner’s circle. Four years to be exact, but when it finally came, Australia’s Andrew Dodt was understandably over the moon.

Playing in his first event since April, the injury-hit Dodt had to shake off the rustiness in his game but like any consummate professional, the Aussie battled hard to regain his place among the game’s elite.

“I had a two-month injury layoff in April. It’s probably a good reset as I gave myself a break and got the love of the game back again,” said Dodt.

Victory at the Sarawak Championship on Sunday was not a straightforward affair for the 33-year-old.

There was the anxiety and uncertainty of whether he could win at the clubhouse.

“Knowing I had to get in the play-off was hard because I probably didn’t expect Richard to make eagle with a three-wood in regulation, but golf is a funny game and you have to expect the unexpected,” said Dodt.

Pressure soon followed at the 18th play-off hole where Dodt knew he cannot afford to slip up and had to rely on a dose of good fortune.

“In the play-off, it’s match play where you have to expect that he’s (Lee) going to hole that putt. He hit a great putt in the play-off, I thought he made it but unfortunately if lipped out. That’s just the way it goes,” said Dodt.

And when Dodt finally laid his hands on the Sarawak Championship trophy, his elation was for all to see at the Damai Golf and Country Club.

“I started my career on the Asian Tour. It’s nice to win on Tour again. We had our first baby almost 10 months ago, so I got to spend some quality time with her during my injury lay-off. This means a lot, I’m a proud Aussie and I love my golf. To win is extra special,” said the Australian.

With his victory, Dodt moved 40 spots up to 19th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit while Canada’s Richard T. Lee, who fell short in the play-off, also made a huge jump by surging to 21st place from his previous 41st position on the money list.

“Honestly, losing in the play-off didn’t really upset me because I made an amazing eagle on the last hole to force extra time. To finish four rounds with that eagle, I am pretty pleased with how I performed this week,” said Lee.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond continues to lead the Order of Merit with his season haul of US$745, 701 despite finishing in a share of sixth place at the Sarawak Championship.

The Asian Tour will take a week’s break before heading to Indonesia for the first time this season for the Bank BRI Indonesia Open which will take place at the Pondok Indah Golf Course from August 29- September 1.

Ends.

Top-20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings
Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)
1 Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $745,701.21
2 Scott HEND (AUS) $528,160.94
3 Yosuke ASAJI (JPN) $285,181.86
4 Taehee LEE (KOR) $274,023.14
5 Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $249,266.67
6 Zach MURRAY (AUS) $204,670.05
7 Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) $183,452.31
8 Johannes VEERMAN (USA) $174,441.87
9 Scott VINCENT (ZIM) $167,490.11
10 David LIPSKY (USA) $137,309.79
11 Sanghyun PARK (KOR) $135,062.83
12 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $112,619.97
13 Janne KASKE (FIN) $106,719.00
14 Dongkyu JANG (KOR) $104,405.57
15 Berry HENSON (USA) $104,342.21
16 Sadom KAEWKANJANA (THA) $92,488.65
17 Panuphol PITTAYARAT(THA) $87,509.11
18 CHIKKARANGAPPA S. (IND) $79,948.12
19 Andrew DODT (AUS) $78,663.56
20 Yuta IKEDA (JPN) $74,749.19

Kuching, Sarawak, August 18: Australian Andrew Dodt defeated Richard T. Lee of Canada on the first extra hole after sinking a two-foot birdie putt to win his third Asian Tour title and first in four years at the US$300,000 Sarawak Championship on Sunday.

The 33-year-old Dodt, who is playing in his first event since suffering a two-month injury layoff in April, was left to endure an agonizing wait in the clubhouse after closing with a flawless eight-under-par 64 at the Damai Golf and Country Club.

Knowing that he needed an eagle on the last to force extra time with Dodt, Lee opted for an aggressive style of play as he hit a three-wood off the deck from about 275 yards to eight-feet and made the eagle putt to sign for a closing 66. It was a sensational finish for Lee as he had to hit a big draw around the trees to get to the green on 18.

The duo, who were tied on 24-under-par 264 in regulation play, returned to the 517-yard par-five 18^th for the sudden-death playoff where both found the middle of the fairway with their tee shots. Dodt laid up to about 75 yards from the pin while Lee decided to go for the green.

The 28-year-old Lee got lucky as his ball hit the cart path and bounced back to about 25 yards right of the green in the rough. He then chipped to 12 feet but his birdie putt would eventually lipped out and it was Dodt who sealed the deal after sticking his approach to two-feet.

American Micah Lauren Shin missed a 20-feet birdie putt on the last to force his way into the play-off as he signed for a 65 to finish in third place on 265 in the full-field event, which celebrated its second straight edition on the Asian Tour this week.

Overnight co-leader Hung Chien-yao of Chinese Taipei returned with a second straight 68 to take fourth place on 266 while Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines settled a further shot back in fifth following a 66 at the Arnold Palmer-designed course.

Order of Merit leader Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand battled to a 69 to finish in a share of sixth place on 268 alongside a host of players, including Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, whose closing 62 would have match the course record if not for the preferred lies ruling in play.

The final round of the Sarawak Championship was delayed by a 3 hours 5 minutes weather suspension in the morning. Play was suspended at 7.25am local time before resuming at 10.30am.

The Sarawak Championship is supported by the Sarawak State government. It is also the Tour’s second stop in Malaysia this season.

Ends.

Did you know?

• Andrew Dodt missed only one green and three fairways en route to his closing 64. With an average of 1.58 putts per Greens in regulation, Dodt is ranked second in the field in the category this week.
• Prior to his victory at the Sarawak Championship, Dodt won the 2010 Avantha Masters and the True Thailand Classic in 2015.
• He had endured a two-month injury layoff starting from April due to a bulging disc in his back which was stemmed from his gym session in Morocco after a long-haul flight from Sydney. He spent the last two months practicing before returning to competitive golf att the Sarawak Championship this week.
• The 2019 Sarawak Championship is his fourth start on Tour this season. He moved from 59th place to 19th place on Order of Merit following his victory, which earned him a winner’s prize purse of US$54,000.
• Richard T. Lee enjoyed a tied-10th place finish at the Kolon Korea Open in June.
• The 28-year-old Lee is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He won his maiden title at the Solaire Open in 2014 and claimed his second victory at the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2017.
• Earlier in April, he won The 15th DB Insurance Promy Open on the Korean PGA Tour.
• Lee enjoyed his career-best finish on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2015 where he finished in seventh place.
• Lee finished as runner-up at his qualifier to earn entry to the 2007 U.S. Open, becoming the second youngest golfer in the 107-year history of the tournament. However, he did not finish the tournament as he injured his wrist in the second round. He finished at +20 and turned professional at the conclusion of the tournament.
• Micah Lauren Shin has enjoyed a tied-second place finish at the Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Cup in May.
• He won his maiden Asian Tour title at the 2017 Resorts World Manila Masters, where he defeated Arnond Vongvanij of Thailand on the first play-off hole with a birdie against a par. The victory came after he called a ruling on himself and was penalised two strokes for having 15 clubs in the bag in the final round.
• He was named the rookie of the year that season after finishing 12th on the 2017 Order of Merit.
• Shin is Korean-American and is based in Davao. He turned professional in 2013.
• Shin secured his Asian Tour card for the first time after coming through his third attempt at the Qualifying School in 2017. He went on to cap his best season yet with a breakthrough win in the Philippines and a top-10 finish in Hong Kong.
• He enjoyed another top-10 finish in Hong Kong in 2018 and finished 45th on the Order of Merit to keep his Asian Tour card for 2019.

Kuching, Sarawak, August 18: Read what players have to say following the final round of the Sarawak Championship on Sunday.

Andrew Dodt (Aus) – Final round 64 (-8), Total 264 (-24)

I started my career on the Asian Tour. It’s nice to win on Tour again. It feels very rewarding. I’ve been playing great at home and I transformed that form at home into this week. It’s great to be holding the trophy. I’m over the moon.

I had a two-month injury layoff in April. It’s probably a good reset, gave myself a break and get the love of the game again. We had our first baby almost 10 months ago, so I got to spend some quality time with her. This means a lot, I’m a prod Aussie and I love my golf. To win is extra special.

I left myself about 85 yards to the pin on the 18th in regulation play. I was probably a bit too far out as the third shot was into the breeze, so in the play-off, I wanted the third shot a little bit closer so it wouldn’t spin as much.

And in the play-off, I had 66 which was perfect cause I knew I had to fly it at least flag high. I did and managed to stop it two feet just behind the hole.

Knowing I had to get in the play-off was hard because I probably didn’t expect Richard to make eagle with a three-wood in regulation, but golf is a funny game and you have to expect the unexpected.

And then into the play-off it’s match play you have to expect that he’s going to hole that putt. He hit a great putt in the play-off, I thought he made it but unfortunately if lipped out. That’s just the way it goes.

At the turn in regulation play, I birdied the first but it was a bit slow after that, but I knew I just had to be patient and hang in there. And then I birdied eight and nine which I did yesterday as well, I just like those middle holes eight to 11. I managed to birdie 12 as well, but I think on the back nine four of the five birdies were tap-ins, so every time you have a tap-in for birdie that’s nice.

I will have to sit down and reassess my schedule now but I’m loving my golf, I just want to keep playing. I’m playing well, I feel like my game is in a good place, my head’s in a good place. Just keep the foot down.

Richard T. Lee (Can) – Final round 64 (-8), Total 264 (-24)

Honestly, losing in the play-off didn’t really upset me because I made an amazing eagle on the last hole to force extra time. To finish four rounds with that eagle, I am pretty pleased with how I performed this week.

I didn’t really practise much before coming to this tournament but finishing second despite losing the play-off, I have no complaints. I wasn’t thinking much out there actually. I set my goal at six-under today and I did that, with that eagle on the last. I’m fine with that honestly.

I was talking to Hung coming down the 18^th as we were both in the middle of the fairway. We knew Micah was at -23 and we told ourselves to just try and make birdies and finish second place. He didn’t make birdie so I decided to go for it with a three-wood. It’s like win or lose and I’m glad I managed to make that eagle.

Micah Lauren Shin (USA) – Final round 65 (-7), Total 265 (-23)

I am disappointed I didn’t make that birdie on the last hole. But overall, I played well. I am happy with another good finish this week. The week’s been good. I made some changes to my swing two weeks ago and I am glad it’s working out well.

I knew I had to score low. I actually thought 23-under or 24-under will win. I was hitting the ball well all week. There are lots of positives to take from this week definitely.

Kuching, Sarawak, August 17: Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert rode on a hot putter to post a seven-under-par 65 and grab a share of the third-round lead with Richard T. Lee of Canada and Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao at the US$300,000 Sarawak Championship on Saturday.

Pavit, a one-time Asian Tour winner, returned with a near-perfect round highlighted by eight birdies against a bogey to match the overall efforts of Lee and Hung, who signed for rounds of 64 and 68 respectively, at the Damai Golf and Country Club.

The trio snatched a one-shot advantage over Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand after they were tied at the top with matching three-day total of 18-under-par 198s in the full-field event, which is celebrating its second straight edition on the Asian Tour this week.

The round of the day goes to Thai-Japanese Kosuke Hamamoto, who fired a sizzling 10-under-par 62 to set a new course record at the Arnold Palmer-designed course.

The 20-year-old rookie made five birdies on each nine to move into a share of eighth place on 201, three behind the leading trio. His third-round 62 would also mark the lowest round to par on the Asian Tour this season.

Jazz, who started the round with a one-shot lead, traded four birdies against two bogeys to sign for a battling 70. He is chasing for a fifth victory and a third one this season which would put him in a strong position to make the International Team for the Presidents Cup in December.

The Sarawak Championship is supported by the Sarawak State government. It is also the Tour’s second stop in Malaysia this season.

Did you know?

• Pavit Tangkamolprasert missed only one fairway in his commendable round of 65. He needed only 26 putts around the greens.
• He is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. He won the Macau Open in 2016.
• Pavit is currently placed 65^th on the Order of Merit. His best result this season is a tied-29^th place finish at the New Zealand Open.
• Enjoyed his career-best season yet on the Asian Tour in 2016 where he finished 12^th on the Order of Merit.
• Pavit was crowned the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit champion in 2014, after winning three titles that season.
• He is a six-time winner on the ADT.
• Pavit’s sister Suchaya and brother Annop are both professional golfers.
• Richard T. Lee sits in 41^st place on the Order of Merit with a current haul of US$39,005. He enjoyed a tied-10^th place finish at the Kolon Korea Open in June.
• The 28-year-old Lee is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He won his maiden title at the Solaire Open in 2014 and claimed his second victory at the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2017.
• Earlier in April, he won The 15th DB Insurance Promy Open on the Korean PGA Tour.
• Lee enjoyed his career-best finish on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2015 where he finished in seventh place.
• Lee’s father Jeff is a teaching professional. He came in runner-up at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship when he was 15.
• Lee finished as runner-up at his qualifier to earn entry to the 2007 U.S. Open, becoming the second youngest golfer in the 107-year history of the tournament. However, he did not finish the tournament as he injured his wrist in the second round. He finished at +20 and turned professional at the conclusion of the tournament.
• Hung Chien-yao of Chinese Taipei broke his personal 36-hole record after carding rounds of 64 and 66 to cap a two-day total of 14-under-par 130. He went on to break his personal 54-hole record after signing for a third-round 68.
• He hasmissed two cuts in six starts so far this season. His best result is a tied-34th place finish at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open and he sits in 64th place on the current Order of Merit.
• The 27-year-old Hung finished tied-20th at the Sarawak Championship last year.
• Hung has yet to win on the Asian Tour but has one Asian Development Tour (ADT) title which he won on home soil in 2013.
• Hung won the TPGA Championship on his local circuit for the third consecutive year last month.
• Jazz Janewattananond is bidding for a fifth Asian Tour title and a third one this season to give himself a chance of automatically qualifying for the International Team, led by Captain Ernie Els, for the Presidents Cup.
• Currently placed 10th on the International Team standings, Jazz needs to move inside the top-eight on the rankings when the Sarawak championship concludes on Sunday. A victory at the Sarawak Championship will likely seal his move there along with an automatic spot for the match-play event which will be held in Melbourne at the end of the year.
• Sitting in 56th position on the latest Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Jazz is the highest-ranked player in the 156-man field. He is also the highest-ranked Thai player in the world.

Kuching, Sarawak, August 17: Read what players have to say following the penultimate round of the Sarawak Championship on Saturday.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Tha) – Third round 65 (-7), Total 198 (-18)

My driver this week is quite good. I hit a lot of fairways and gave myself a lot of chances for birdies. This course is not that long. I hit a lot of wedge. I holed a long putt today on the third. It’s about a 30-footer. Gave me a lot of confidence there. On the 12^th, I made the putt from about nine yards off the green.

I wasn’t thinking about winning. I stayed relaxed out there and just enjoyed the round. I know I need to try and retain my card this year but I won’t give myself any pressure.

I took a week off to spend some time with my girlfriend in the States over the summer break. It was nice to take a vacation and come back fresh. I worked out there as well. Went to see my friend who is a trainer there.

I will play my best tomorrow. The par-fives here are reachable so everyone can make birdies out there. Putting is key too. You can hit the green but if you can’t make the putts, it’s nothing.

The season’s not been good. It’s been pretty rough, missed a couple of cuts. But I have been working on my fitness a lot. Working out in the right way when I was in the States, so hopefully the efforts will pay off this week.

Hung Chien-yao (Tpe) – Third round 68 (-4), Total 198 (-18)

I chipped in from about 75 yards for eagle on the first. It was a great start. Gives me a lot of confidence heading into the round. I think I was lucky today too. I didn’t give myself as many birdie chances as I did the last two rounds.

Even when I hit the greens, I didn’t put the ball as close as I did the last two rounds. I think my distance control wasn’t that good today. I guess I will just take it day by day. I wasn’t thinking much out there to be honest.

I had two chip-ins today, one on the first and one on the par-three sixth from about 25 feet. My short game was really good today. I broke my personal three-day total record so it was good. My previous record was 16-under.

I think my win at home last month gave me a lot of confidence and it’s one of the reasons why I am playing well this week. I like the course here too so I am feeling really comfortable this week. I will try my best tomorrow.

Richard T. Lee (Can) – Third round 64 (-8), Total 198 (-18)

It’s been awhile since I last shot eight-under. You need to hit your driver well and make putts out there to play well. I hit a five-iron to about 10 feet and made the eagle putt on 11^th. It’s my fourth eagle this week.

The week’s been good. It’s like a vacation to me this week actually. I’m rooming with my long-time friend Unho Park and I feel really comfortable this week. I am just keeping it steady out there and try to make less mistakes.

This is my first time playing in Sarawak. I am just going to try and make putts out there tomorrow and shoot six-under. I think it should be enough to seal the deal. The season’s been good for me so far. I haven’t performed that much on the Asian Tour but I have won a title in Korea.

It’s getting better for me. Last year was a bit of struggle with club changes and all. I hope it will get better from now! 18-under is my lowest 54-hole score so far on the Asian Tour. I had my thoughts on breaking the course record today too. Mindset would be to make putts, keep cool and play well tomorrow.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Third round 70 (-2), Total 199 (-17)

I was struggling on the greens a bit today, I know it’s going to hit me some days but it wasn’t too bad. I’m still hitting it good, just two bad holes today that kind of cost me but I’m still hitting it good.

Just because I had five chances for birdie before and I didn’t make any, so I just tried to be too aggressive on those holes but it’s all good. I had to lay up on the last hole. I hit it left off the tee, the wind picked up the last four holes. Made a four-footer for birdie there.

I mean one shot back in the final round is almost nothing. I can’t even predict who is going to win tomorrow since the scores are so tight, so it’s anyone’s game right now. Whoever goes out with the best putting round will win.

Ends.