ON THE ASIAN TO UR
Da Silva savours long-awaited victory
Adilson Da Silva of Brazil claimed a long-
awaited victory on the Asian Tour after
closing with a third consecutive two-under-
par 70 to win by one shot at the storied
Mercuries Taiwan Masters. The 46-year-
old Da Silva, who held a one-shot lead
heading into the final round, fired three
birdies on the third, seventh and 13th holes
before dropping a shot on the last for a
winning total of seven-under-par 281 in the
US$850,000 event. Da Silva, who started
playing on Tour after coming through the
Qualifying School in 2011, earned a career-
biggest prize purse of US$170,000 thanks
to his victory. He also became the first
Brazilian to win on the region’s premier
Tour since it was inaugurated in 2004. Local
hero Lin Wen-tang signed for a 70 to share
second place with American Berry Henson,
who posted a 69, at the fabled Taiwan Golf
and Country Club, which is celebrating its
centennial year in 2018. Qualifying school
graduate Heungchol Joo of Korea marked
his best result so far this season after battling
to a 72 to sit in fourth place alongside South
African Justin Harding, who closed with a
72, in what is the longest running full-field
event on the Asian Tour. Despite missing
out on his third win of the season, Harding
took pride in his commendable result which
moved him up two spots to sixth place on the
Adilson Da Silva With His Winning Trophy
Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings,
led by India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who
finished in tied-42nd place. The top 10 and
top four players (not otherwise exempt) on
the Habitat for Humanity standings, as of
October 7, will qualify for the US$7 million
CIMB Classic and US$10 million WGC-HSBC
Champions staged in Malaysia and China.
Catlin scores hat-trick with another win
Chinese Taipei John Catlin holding the trophy
John Catlin of the United States became the fifth
person to win three titles in a single season on the
Asian Tour when he signed off with a flawless seven-
under-par 65 to win the Yeangder Tournament
Players Championship. American Sihwan Kim was
tussling with Catlin for the outright lead right until
the 16th hole where a costly bogey pegged him
back to second place which he would eventually
finish at the US$500,000 event. The local hopes
of welcoming another home winner were dashed
as Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao could not
surmount the late charge needed and ended his
week in third place at the Linkou International Golf
and Country Club. India’s Viraj Madappa enjoyed
a welcome return to form by finishing fourth after
missing three cuts since his maiden breakthrough
at home in August. Catlin, who held a share of the
lead since the second round, had a decisive birdie
on 16 to thank for giving him a two-shot cushion
heading into his final two holes. That advantage
provided him with much relief as two straight pars
on 17 and 18 saw him close with a winning total
of 15-under-par 273 and sealed his place as the
newest winner of the Yeangder Tournament Players
Championship.
GolfPlus
NOVEMBER
2018
27