Powerful finish earns Declan O’Donovan Sydney title
Declan O’Donovan – image PGA of Australia
22 year old Sydney golfer, Declan O’Donovan, in just his 7th start as a professional since turning to the paid ranks last November, today not only won his first PGA Tour of Australasia title, but he did so in the most emphatic fashion.
O’Donovan began the final round of the Webex Players Series Sydney event at the Castle Hill Golf Club with a one-shot lead over West Australian Brady Watt, but fell behind by two at one stage early in his round but, with a final round of 67 despite an early double bogey, he was able to win by five.
O’Donovan’s shaky start to the round would see Watt take over the lead by one at the turn and, with another birdie at the 10th, Watt had drawn clear by two over both O’Donovan and Stephanie Kyriacou who had burst out of the blocks on day four with an opening nine of 31 to challenge the leaders after starting the day six shots from the lead.
O’Donovan, though, who had been in or near the lead in last week’s Webex event on the Murray River, unleashed a stunning final stretch with five birdies in his last seven holes and, as Watt and Kyriacou dropped shots over the closing nine, he would win the title and the $A45,000 first prize.
Queensland’s Jake McLeod continued his recent improvement when he finished alone in 4th place.
O’Donovan improves to 18th place in the Order of Merit and secures his future on the PGA Tour of Australasia for the next two years.
