Last hole mistake proves costly for Scott Hend in Jakarta
Scott Hend file photo – courtesy of Asian Tour
Scott Hend had done everything right in today’s final round of the Mandiri Indonesia Open at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta until, that is, he stood on the 18th tee tied for the lead with the eventual winner, Nitithorn Thippong of Thailand.
Six birdies over his first 14 holes had swept the Queenslander into a share of the lead but at the reachable par 5 final hole, he pulled-hooked his tee shot out of bounds and although he recovered to potentially save at least bogey, he missed a very short putt and eventually finished with a double bogey and a three share of second place, two shots behind the winner.
Beginning today’s final round six shots from the lead, Hend had crafted a beautiful final round until disaster struck at the last moment for the former PGA Tour player who turns 50 in two week’s time.
Despite the agony of such a late blunder, it was a turnaround in form for Hend who had failed to record a top ten in ten starts to this point on the 2023 Asian Tour, especially given an absence from tournament golf for nearly six weeks.
Hend, though, is a prolific winner of events in Asia having won nine titles since 2009 and regularly finishing amongst the money list leaders each season.
For the winner, Thippong, it was his third Asian Tour title although like Hend, he had been unable to record a top ten this season until now.
The next best of the Australians were Thomas Power Horan and Douglas Klein who tied for 19th.
