ZIMBABWEAN golfer Brendon de Jonge concluded the CIMB Classic with a 5-under-par 66 to post 19-under 265 and finish in a tie for fourth place with former world number one Tiger Woods at the Mines Resort and Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday.
Report by Daniel Nhakaniso Sports Reporter
De Jonge, who managed his third consecutive top-five finish with his fourth-place finish in Malaysia, did what he does best all week, burying 26 birdies against just seven bogeys.
The heavily built golfer shot 68-65-66 prior to yesterday’s finale, thus illustrating a continuation of form from the Fall Series where he opened with a pair of top five finishes. He was joined in fourth place by Woods who shot a 63 to tie for fourth at 19 under fellow American Chris Kirk who shot 67.
De Jonge, Woods and Kirk were three shots behind American Nick Watney who finished at 22-under 262 to earn $1 098 000 in the unofficial PGA Tour event. The tournament will become a fully-fledged PGA Tour event next year when the Tour begins its new season in October after the FedExCup Playoffs.
Prior to travelling to Malaysia for the PGA Tour-sanctioned event, De Jonge finished in second place at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas a fortnight ago before finishing in a tie for fourth at last week’s McGladrey Classic in Georgia. Most impressively for De Jonge is the fact that he has averaged 66,00 in the last round of his last three starts on the PGA Tour. Given his reputation as a disappearing act on Sundays, this is an exciting trend for De Jonge, who is yet to post a victory on the PGA Tour.
His fourth place finish at Malaysia this weekend was a direct contrast to his performance at the same event last year when he finished tied for position 31. His performances reflect on what has been a successful season for the Zimbabwean.
