Date: February 17, 2008
Author: Sportal

Blyth finishes well

Australian golfer Adam Blyth has finished in a tie for 10th place behind little-known Chilean Felipe Aguilar at the Indonesia Open. Aguilar kept his nerve to secure a thrilling final-hole victory at the Indonesia Open and capture a maiden success on the European Tour. The 33-year-old has won over 30 events in his homeland and, after only regaining his Tour card at the end of 2007, drew on that experience to edge Jeev Milkha Singh and secure the victory. Blyth carded a final round of 69 to finish seven shots off the pace, while fellow Australians Tony Carolan and Gary Simpson were a shot further adrift in equal 19th. It was all decided on the par-four 18th as Singh approached the last holding a one-shot lead at 18-under. Aguilar, meanwhile, had understandably put in a relatively nervy performance in the final round, losing his overnight two-stroke lead and needed a birdie on the final hole to at least guarantee a playoff. Indian golfer Singh made a bad start when he sent his tee shot behind an undulation in the rough but recovered well to chip the ball to the edge of the green. Aguilar enjoyed better fortune as, from a well-placed tee-shot, he chipped superbly to within five feet of the pin. He then coolly putted for a birdie to pile the pressure on Singh to ensure he made par and force a play-off. However the 36-year-old, having chipped onto the green, watched in dismay as his attempted par putt lipped out to hand the victory to Aguilar. Aguilar finished with a two-under-par 68 for 18-under overall while Singh was a stroke behind after carding a three-under 67. Tied for fourth were South African James Kamte and Thai Prom Meesawat after both carded 67s while Joost Luiten of the Netherlands and New Zealander Mark Brown finished in a share of fifth. Of the remaining Australian, Scott Hend and Scott Strange tied for 25th, Matthew Millar finished equal 35th, David Bransdon shared 40th place and Scott Barr was joint 50th.