Arie triumphs in a head-to-head with Becierra

Sunday, May 25, 2008 - MGA Web Editor

Champion,Arie Irawan	It was a disappointing finish for Dante Becierra

In an exciting two-horse race in the final round, Muhammad Arie Irawan patiently navigated the 6,326-metre, par-72 Kelab Golf Negara Subang's layout, hanging on to Dante Becierra's coattails before seizing the Malaysian Amateur Stroke Play Championship title at the final hole.

Arie returned with a one-under-par 71 for a tournament total of five-under-par 283 and a two-stroke victory over Jhonnel Ababa of the Philippines. Ababa's compatriot and overnight leader, Becierra slumped to a three-over-par 75 and ended with a share of third place on two-under-par 286.

"I was quite comfortable on the course today. Every part of my game worked fine. I wasn't nervous at all even after knowing that I had the chance to win at the last," said Arie who shot four birdies and three bogeys. "On the 18th, I could hear the cheers but my focus was solely on making the putt. It was a great feeling."

It was a thrilling roller-coaster final round with Arie matching Becierra stroke for stroke. The 17-year-old Arie fell two shots behind when he bogeyed the eighth hole but pulled level after a gutsy birdie on the 365-metre, par-four tenth hole.

Becierra regained the lead with a birdie on the 514-metre, par-five 11th but surrendered it with a bogey three holes later. The duo matched birdies on the 323-metre, par-four 16th hole but the worst was yet to come for Becierra.
His game unravelled on the par-five 17th where he lost his concentration turning a routine two-putt par into a three-putt bogey, giving away the advantage to Arie on a silver platter. It became worst for Becierra at the 391-metre, par-four last hole.

Struggling with his driving all day he pushed his tee-shot to the fairway bunker on the right, blasted out and went on to find the greenside bunker with his third shot. He was on in four and needed two putts for a double-bogey six.

"My driving was not up to the mark all day. I kept straying to the right and found myself in the trees a lot," said the 22-year-old Becierra whose erratic round consisted of four birdies, five bogeys and a double-bogey. "I three-putted the 17th and lost my putting control and concentration. That's where I lost the championship."

After finding himself with the outright lead at the 17th, Arie kept his nerves at the last hole. He reached the green in regulation and two-putted for the par and the championship.

"Tomorrow is another day, another format. I'm not sure whether I'm the favourite or not but I'll give my best," said Arie when asked of his chances in the matchplay event. "I'm ready for tomorrow."

Taiwan's Tao Huang (69), Philippines' Ferdinand Aunzo (72) and Nicholas Fung (72) were tied for third place with Becierra.

Another Filipino, Antonio Asistio II (70) finished with a share of seventh place on one-under-par 287 alongside Sri Lanka's Mithun Perera (71) and New Zealand's Sean Riordan (71) and Daniel Pearce (72).

Thailand's Idtiphat Silasuwan emerged as the nett champion with a three-day total of 13-under-par 203 nett. The five-handicapper finished a single stroke ahead of Malaysia's Chan Tuck Soon. Three strokes further adrift was Ashraf Ahmad Shakil in third place.

Eleven Malaysians are among the top 32 players who advanced to the 106th Malaysian Amateur Open to be played in matchplay format from May 26 to 28, also at Kelab Golf Negara Subang.

Final Day Results

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

Rank Team Golfer's No. & Name Hcap Grs Grs Grs Grs TOTAL

1 MAS 083-M.ARIE IRAWAN 0 67 70 75 71 283
2 PHI 027-JHONNEL ABABA 0 75 69 71 70 285
3 TWN 063-TAO HUANG 2 71 72 74 69 286
4 PHI 026-FERDINAND AUNZO +1 67 75 72 72 286
5 MAS 074-NICHOLAS FUNG 0 66 72 76 72 286
6 PHI 031-DANTE BECIERRA +1 74 69 68 75 286
7 PHI 030-ANTONIO ASISTIO II 0 71 74 72 70 287
8 NZL 023-SEAN RIORDAN +3 72 73 71 71 287
9 SLK 051-MITHUN PERERA 0 71 73 72 71 287
10 NZL 022-DANIEL PEARCE +4 69 70 76 72 287
11 IND 013-GAGAN VERMA 2 76 73 72 67 288
12 PHI 034-MIKO ALEJANDRO 0 72 73 71 72 288
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