Brisbane's Blyth narrowly misses in Beijing
IN: News | Asian | Pine Valley Beijing Open (2007) | by Bruce Young | 29 Apr 2007
The rapidly improving Brisbane based golfer, Adam Blyth, has recorded his best finish on the Asian Tour by finishing runner up to India’s Gaurav Ghei, at the Pine Valley Beijing Open today.
Blyth, who originally hails from Yeppoon near Rockhampton, has played the Asian Tour for the past two seasons and has been quietly going about his business retaining his playing privileges in each of his first two seasons.
In 2007 however there has been a noticeable improvement with the 25-year-old, regularly contending in both the stand alone Asian Tour events and events co-sanctioned with the European Tour.
Blyth shared the lead into the final round with Ghei, Thai Panuwat Muenlek and Australian Scott Strange but struggled through the front nine and fell three shots behind. Unlike several of his recent final day efforts, however, Blyth was able to move forward over the closing nine holes and moved back to within two with just two holes to play. He was unable to pick up the birdie he needed to place even further pressure on his final round partner Ghei but it was an important day in the development of Blyth’s capacity to handle winning opportunities.
It also further confirms the position that Blyth was keen to establish on the Asian Tour, namely that of being exempt for 2008 as soon as possible in order that he might pursue other Tour cards later this year. This week’s performance should get Blyth close to the top ten on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
For Gehi it is his second win in less than a year after a long drought of victories on the Asian Tour. His win at the Mercurie Taiwan Masters last year was his first win in 11 years and he has followed up with this victory, putting behind him a long line of injuries that have curtailed his career.
Scott Strange finished 5th, Brad Iles 7th, David Gleeson and Tony Carolan shared 8th while Scott Hend continued on with his very good recent form with a back nine of 33 to finish 10th.
The Asian Tour is in Korea next week for the Maekyung Open.
