PERTH, Australia: South Korea’s Jin Jeong beat England’s Ross Fisher in a play-off to win the European Tour co-sanctioned $2m Perth International at Lake Karrinyup yesterday.
Former leading world amateur Jeong and Fisher finished the tournament locked at 10-under 278 before the Korean claimed victory at the first playoff hole.
Jeong, who carded a closing round of three under 69, held the upper hand when Fisher was left with a four-metre putt for par after fluffing his chip onto the green.
Fisher pushed the putt wide, leaving Jeong with a one-metre putt to win the tournament.
Jeong, ranked 1,066 in the world, sunk the putt to land the title and pocket the $333,330 winner’s cheque. It also secured him a two-year exemption on the European Tour.
“I was nervous, I was shaking but I controlled myself pretty well all day I thought. Yeah, I don’t know what I’ve done to be honest,” Jeong said.
“It means a lot. I was waiting for something like this for a long time. I was going to go back to qualifying school after next week but I guess I don’t have to anymore.
Overnight leader Australian Brody Ninyette bogeyed two of his final three holes to miss the playoff altogether.
Ninyette finished equal third with Australian Dimitrios Papadatos and England’s Danny Willett.AFP
