Asian Tour Book 2024

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM FOR LEWTON IN INDONESIA ENGLISHMAN PREVAILS IN OVERTIME AFTER FINISHING SECOND TWICE Steve Lewton [right] had previously won on Tour 10 years before. S teve Lewton, one of the most liked players on the Asian Tour, was third- time lucky as he carved out a popular victory at the Mandiri Indonesia Open. The 41-year-old from England was tied second in the tournament the last previous years – finishing two shots behind India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar in 2022 and again two adrift of Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong the following year. It seemed he would miss out once again when he finished with a double bogey on the 72nd hole in regulation play, but a birdie on the second play-off hole ensured him a second Asian Tour title – one that came after a 10-year wait from his maiden win at the 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters. At Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, Lewton started the final round one shot behind third-round leader Australian Aaron Wilkin, who had set a stunning course record 10-under 61 in the first round. Lewton started Sunday with four straight pars before a terrific stretch of five birdies in the next six holes steered him clear of the field at 18-under par. Wilkin had begun with a bogey and was one-under par for the day after 10 holes, trailing Lewton by three shots, while promising Chinese rookie Sampson Zheng had moved to 16-under par with four birdies and a bogey. And then it all started unravelling for Lewton. Bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes pulled him back to 16-under par. He then knuckled down to make successive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to go ahead by two shots once again, before the disaster on the 18th. He pulled his tee shot on the par-four final hole for the double bogey. He closed with a 68 to tie at the top with Zheng (68) and Wilkin (69). The first play-off, on the 18th hole, was halved with all three making bogies, but Lewton was the one closest with his par putt, which he missed from four feet. His heart was in his mouth moments later as his tee shot veered left towards the hazard on the second play-off hole, again on 18, 77 MA NDI R I I NDONE S I A OPEN DAMA I I N DA H GO L F ( P I K CO U R S E ) , J A K A R TA AU G U S T 2 9 - S E P T EM B E R 1 | P R I Z E MON E Y: U S $ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0