Date: October 22, 2012
Author:

Grant Report – Imports dominate in Perth

Local star Greg Chalmers was the best Australian home – in 10th place – as overseas players dominated the Perth International at Lake Karrinyup.

American Bo Van Pelt won  an all-American shootout with Jason Dufner to collect the title  with a total of 16-under par.

Starting the final round with a one stroke lead Van Pelt was in control of the tournament throughout the day, posting a final round five under par 67 to secure the win by two shots.

“It’s a great feeling to come out on top, I have a lot of respect for Jason and his game,he’s a world-class player and I knew it was going to be tough today,” Van Pelt said.

“I knew he was going to keep the pressure on me, and I needed to play well if I was going to come out on top," he said after his first tournament win this year.

“In golf, no matter how great of a player you are, you lose more than you win, even the best players of all time, they don’t win 50 percent.

“Any time you get a win, it’s special; to come this far and to play against a great field, a co-sanctioned European Tour event and PGA Tour of Australasia event, it’s something that I’ll cherish forever.”

“I’ve won a tournament in the States and I’ve won a tournament in Malaysia, and now to win one in Australia, as much as golf means over here, it means a lot to me to come to a country that treasures  golf and to win a title.”

The victory was particularly poignant for Van Pelt who dedicated it to his friend and PGA TOUR caddy, Scott Steele, who died on Saturday.

“It was tough news this morning, I found out off of Twitter, some of the other caddies and players that I follow,” said Van Pelt.

“I knew he had had a heart attack earlier in the week in a Champions Tour event and they didn’t know how he was going to come out of the coma, to see that he had passed on was tough news.”

“The best way to honour a guy like that was to have a great attitude and have a lot of energy, that’s how he lived his life. This one is for him.”  

Van Pelt now heads to China where he will defend the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur.

World Number 10 Jason Dufner was the only player in the field to challenge Van Pelt but found each of his birdies was answered by the eventual champion.

“Bo played really good today, put a lot of pressure on me to make something happen and I couldn’t quite do it,” said Dufner.

Chalmers finished seven under for the tournament and while disappointed he wasn’t able to make more of a run at the leaders he is looking forward to the rest of the Australian summer of golf.

“I’ve had a great week and really enjoyed all the local support and it’s been a really exciting week for me.  I have not played professional golf here for so long and it’s been just fabulous,” Chalmers said.

"I was never going to win the golf tournament after about nine holes, I figured out – but I was in a good position to have a strong finish, top three or five and I blew it over the last couple of holes.”

“I’m going to play the Australian Open and the PGA to defend what I won last year.  I’ll be back and I’ll be playing.  I come back every year and I enjoy it,” he added.

Portugal’s Alejandro Canizares finished the tournament  in outright third at 11-under the card.

A further two shots back was New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, who after leading at the conclusion of the first round finished the tournament outright fourth at  nine under par.
 
Rounding out the top five at eight under  was a group of five players including second round leader Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, Englishmen Paul Casey and David Howell, Scotsman Scott Jamieson and Welshman Rhys Davies.

By: Robert Grant