Matt Jones – runner-up in St Andrews – image courtesy of LIV Golf.
Australian Matt Jones has finished runner-up at the Asian Tour’s International Series event at Fairmont St Andrews in St Andrews Scotland, but that tells only part of what was an historical final day.
The playoff between LIV Golf player, Jones and Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra lasted a massive ten holes (an Asian Tour record) before a two-putt par by Chaccara at the par 5 was unable to be matched by Jones who missed from five feet to keep the battle alive.
For Jones however, it continues a good run of late during which he was a member of the winning Rippers team in LIV Golf event in New Jersey three weeks ago, securing US$750,000 plus an individual prize of close to US$160,000 there, followed by a 4th place finish and another US$76,000 at last week’s International Series event in Scotland and now this runner-up finish and another US$220,000.
So around US$1.2 million in his last three events for the 43-year-old Arizona-based Sydney golfer.
Jones and Chacarra had both birdied the final hole of regulation to force the playoff but it would be the 23-year-old Chacarra who not only won his first Asian Tour event but his first event since turning professional last year. He won US$360,000.
Queenslander, Andrew Dodt finished in a share of third place and earned US$113,000, by some margin his biggest cheque of the year and, after a break from tournament golf and returning at last week’s event in Newcastle where he missed the cut, this is a major boost for three time Asian Tour event winner.
South Australian Wade Ormsby also had a good week when he finished tied for 8th place.
