Shohei Hasegawa celebrates victory in Bogor.
Bogor, Indonesia: Overnight leader
Shohei Hasegawa was declared the winner of the US$70,000 OB Golf Invitational when the final round was cancelled due to inclement weather.
It was a maiden Asian Development Tour victory for the 24-year-old Japanese and his first professional win since he joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2015.
Hasegawa emerged victorious by one shot at the event at Gunung Geulis Golf and Country Club.
Hasegawa, who won with a three-round total of 10-under-par 203, said: “The weather didn’t look good this morning and I thought I would still have 18 holes to play a better round today. But they decided to shorten the tournament. I was just upset that I didn’t get the opportunity to play in the final group which I was looking forward to.
“I was going to use today to gauge how I perform under pressure since I had a big group chasing me from behind. It’s not something you experience every day and it is great practice at this level of competition.”
The final round was scheduled to start at 7.30 am local time but was delayed until 8.30 am and suspended again at 8.57 am due to lighting threats. It was at 11 am that officials announced the cancellation of the final round.
“After deliberation, the organising committee decided to cancel the final round due to heavy rain which was expected to last throughout the day. Conditions were also deemed unplayable. Considering we lost close to nine hours of playing time in total due to inclement weather all week, we had to alleviate travel concerns for our players and shorten the event,” said Asian Tour Tournament Director
Fritz Katzengruber.
Hasegawa, an Asian Tour Qualifying school graduate who resides in Hiroshima, tied for sixth in Brunei this month.
Relishing the opportunity to play against an international field, the Japanese went home with a winner’s prize purse of US$12,250 and is now looking forward to gaining more playing experience on the ADT.
“There wasn’t much pressure this morning because I was more excited. I have been in the final groups in local events back home but this is the biggest tournament that I have been able to get into this position.
“I am very impressed with the level of competition on the ADT and having played in the last two events since I got my card, I have met so many friends and watched how different players compete. I look forward to winning a tournament by playing all four days. That will be my next goal.
“It feels so good to finally win my first professional victory. I am going to tell all my friends back home and call my family. I feel good about where my game is at right now and I am proud of how I performed on this course,” said Hasegawa.
Sydney Chung settled for second place on 204 while fellow-American
John Catlin was a further shot back in third. Indonesian
George Gandranata signed for a 206 to secure fourth place while Singapore’s
Johnson Poh took outright fifth place with his 208 total.