Thanks to a huge 63 (-9), card of the week in Singapore, the South African Ockie Strydom wins the Singapore Classic. With a total score of -19 (269), he is just one point ahead of Finland’s Sami Välimäki. The German Marcel Schneider, the South Korean Jeunghun Wang and the Spaniard Alejandro Del Rey complete the podium at -15. Antoine Rozner and Matthieu Pavon offer themselves a very good sixth place at -14…
L.V.
Two months almost to the day after his first victory at the Dunhill Championship at home in Leopard Creek, Ockie Strydom put it back. This time in Singapore. Starting this Sunday four strokes behind leaders Jeunghun Wang and Alejandro Del Rey, the 38-year-old South African was able to make up for his delay with a certain mastery and play a game of golf that was remarkable to say the least with at the finish an extraordinary 63 (-9), card of the week recorded here at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
Five birdies distilled at a rhythmic pace (every two holes) on the go before adding four more on the return, including two on the crucial holes 16 and 18. Two feats that ultimately made the difference since his total score of – 19 (269) allows him to beat the Finn on the wire Sami Välimäki, the only second at -18 and who was not able to concretize his solid iron shots on the greens of 16 and 18. Precisely where Strydom was the strongest. However, he was three strokes ahead after ten holes played…
Simply sensational ????
Under pressure @OckieStrydom produces this at the final hole.#SingaporeClassic pic.twitter.com/RMPOw2OhQ9
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 12, 2023
Force of nature, cut like a springbok third line, Strydom recalls here the recent trajectory of his compatriot Tristan Lawrencemultiple winner during the 2021-22 season on the DP World Tour and hitherto exclusively known to fans of the Sunshine Tourthe very high profile South African pro circuit from which he comes.
A new deserved success as his main opponents also failed to take advantage of their lead at the start of this last round in the island-state. Starting with South Korean Jehun Wangbroken down with his putter and who is content with an unfortunate 71 (-1) to grab a joint third place at -15 with the German Marcel Schneider and Spanish Alexander Del Reythe other big loser of the day.
Del Rey is making an early statement.
He moves three clear at the top????#SingaporeClassic pic.twitter.com/iAL2iDDlUH
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 12, 2023
The latter had however started his Sunday as it should with three birdies on his first three holes. But this light saber charge then ran out of steam over a course that does not forgive mistakes like this double bogey on 6 then this bogey on 17, definitively ending his hopes of triumph here.
New top 10 for Matthieu Pavon
Still no victory either Matthew Pavon, eighth after 54 holes three lengths from the lead. But the Bordelais offers himself a new top 10 just a few days after his 9th place in the Ras Al Khaimah Championship thanks to his 69 (-3). He thus finished 6th at -14, alongsideAntoine Rozner, author of a 67 (-5) without fault. The Racingman, who was making his return to the European Tour after a week’s break, climbed to 12th place in the Race…
In the hard yesterday with his 72 (by), Julian Brown managed to rectify the situation somewhat with a final 69. Antibois finished 12th at -13 but remained in the top 10 of the Race (10th). We won’t see him again on the Tour before Kenya on March 9…
Le leaderboard
The leaderboard of other French people
Photo : Yong Teck Lim / GETTY IMAGES ASIAPAC / Getty Images via AFP
