SINGAPORE, March 12: Home favourite Mardan Mamat held his nerve down the back nine to fend off a late challenge from defending champion Nick Dougherty of Britain for a one-stroke victory at the Singapore Masters on Sunday.
The 38-year-old held or shared the lead since the opening day at the $1 million co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event, and a final round one-under 71 was enough to ensure his 12-under-par 276 total secured the title.
Mardan, who broke down in tears after sinking a three-foot putt for par at the last, became the first Singaporean to triumph in a tour event on home soil, picking up $166,600 and a two-year European Tour exemption for his week’s work.
Leading final round scores:
276 — Mardan Mamat (Singapore) 65, 70, 70, 71.
277 — Nick Dougherty (Britain) 69, 70, 67, 71.
278 — Charlie Wi (South Korea) 69, 73, 65, 71; Ross Fisher (Britain) 71, 68, 68, 71.
284 — Keith Horne (South Africa) 72, 72, 71, 69; Stuart Little (Britain) 71, 69, 72, 72; Prom Meesawat (Thailand) 73, 71, 67, 73; Simon Yates (Britain) 72, 71, 69, 72
285 — Anthony Kang (US) 75, 70, 67, 73; Danny Chia (Malaysia) 75, 68, 68, 74; Chris Rodgers (Britain) 72, 70, 71, 72; Wen-Chong Liang (China) 73, 72, 70, 70.
TOMS FALTERS
MIAMI: Britain’s Luke Donald overcame difficult conditions with a four-under-par 68 to hold a share of the lead after the PGA Tour third round at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Englishman mixed five birdies with a solitary bogey to finish on nine-under 207 after a challenging day of blustery winds and fast-running greens at the Country Club at Mirasol.
That put him level with American Billy Mayfair, who eagled the par-five 17th on the way to an even 72.
Donald and Mayfair took advantage of a stumbling finish by overnight leader David Toms, who bogeyed four of the last six holes for a 76.
Leading third round scores:
207 — Luke Donald (Britain) 72, 67, 68; Billy Mayfair (US) 68, 67, 72.