It took an Asian Tour record of 10 extra play-off holes for Spaniad Eugenio Chacarra to capture a first Asian Tour win over Aussie Matt Jones in an historic maiden Tour event at the Home of Golf.
Chacarra and Jones ended regulation play tied at 19-under-par with Jones posting a closing 69 and Chacarra a 67 on the Torrance course at the Fairmont Resort.
The duo headed back to the uphill par-5 18th and proceeded to birdie the hole on six occasions before moving to the par-3 17th where the pair played the hole twice and walked off with pars on each occasion.
With the light deteriorating, it was then back to the 18th for a remarkable eighth occasion and the 10th extra hole. That’s three more extra holes than the prior Asian Tour record of seven set at the 2001 SK Telecom Open.
Both players found bunkers around the green but with Jones, who was pin-high right, getting a flyer from the trap that rolled off the green, and from where he chipped his fourth shot to five-feet. The double PGA Tour and Australian Open winner then needed to hole his par-saver that he missed thus handing victory to his 23-year-old rival.
The World No. 1,952nd ranked Chacarra, like Tiger Woods, wears a red shirt on a Sunday, earned a $US270,000 first prize cheque along with a two-year Asian Tour exemption.
Victory was also Chacarra’s second as pro having won last October’s LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok by three shots from Masters champ Patrick Reed.
“Yeah, I mean, it was a long day,” said Characca.
“I’m happy it came out my way, but I mean, Matt had a tremendous day as well. Tremendous 10 holes, I think we all know he’s a great player. Thank you very much it came out my way but I’m sure Matt will win a lot of more events.
“It’s been amazing coming here to Scotland and the Asian tour is doing amazing things. I mean, they’re growing the game of golf and I had a lot of fun.
“We normally don’t get these good days in Scotland, so it was awesome.
“I mean, obviously I got the win so it would make it a little more fun, but it was awesome. Yeah, thanks to the Asian Tour International series for what they’re doing and hopefully we can come back a lot more years.”
Jones, who looked worn out in standing over his hopeful par-saving final putt admitted he’d thrown away the tournament.
“I threw away a golf tournament with the way I putted during the tournament, and in the play-off”, he said.
“I putted pretty awful all week. I missed a lot of short ones. My speed was terrible, but I hit some nice shots.
“It is always good to get into contention but I am done now, I’m tired”.
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