Jeffress snatches tough Fiji International

Birdies at three of the last four holes has propelled journeyman pro Steven Jeffress to the biggest win of his professional career at the inaugural Fiji International.

Birdies at three of the last four holes propelled journeyman professional Steven Jeffress to the biggest win of his professional career at a wind-blown inaugural Fiji International.

The 38-year-old pro-am veteran felt right at home in the gusty ocean breezes to emerge victorious from a gripping last-day duel with second-year pro Jake Higginbottom at the Natadola Bay course, south of Nadi. On a layout that course designer and marquee player Vijay Singh estimated would produce only a four-under winning tally for 72 holes, Jeffress made it to double-digits in the red after his frenetic closing stretch.

It was a victory for patience as Jeffress made no birdies for the first 14 holes in the final round while Higginbottom first assumed control then faltered towards the finish line. Perseverance has been a feature of Jeffress’ career, making the manner of his biggest win all the more fitting.

“There’s so many good golfers out here and to actually know that you can compete and win is an amazing feeling,” said Jeffress, whose previous biggest win was a Victorian PGA Championship. “I’ve just hit the ball in the right places today and that’s what I do around this golf course. I’m over the moon.”

Sunday dawned with Jeffress and 20-year-old Higginbottom tied for the lead in paradise at eight-under-par, two strokes clear of former European Tour winner Andrew Dodt. The ocean breeze, which had been ever-present for the first three days, strengthened into a full-bore blustery wind to test the field.

Jake Higginbottom looks for his lost ball in the hazard on the 15th hole during the final round of the Fiji International. PHOTO: Supplied by PGA of Australia.

Higginbottom stamped his authority approaching the turn in the final round. He played a cute pitch over the front bunker to set up a birdie at the par-5 6th hole then drained a 20-footer to birdie the eighth before rifling a short iron through the breeze at the 9th that threatened the flag before settling near the cup for another birdie. That run moved the young Novocastrian from a stroke behind Jeffress to two in front. When Dodt dropped four shots in three holes from the 9th, the top pair embarked on an eight-hole duel for the title.

The big moment occurred on Natadola Bay’s littlest hole. From the tee of the 15th hole, an innocuous downhill par-3 with a following breeze, Jeffress stiffed his wedge shot to record his first birdie of the round after an opening bogey preceded 13 straight pars. Higginbottom’s response was to chunk a wedge in the manner of a C-grader, his ball diving into a lateral hazard. He redeemed himself somewhat by holing a pitch shot for bogey but in a round where the deadlock appeared strong, the tournament was suddenly decided in a heartbeat as Higginbottom gifted his rival a two-shot lead. When Jeffress saved a crucial par on the brutal par-4 16th and Higginbottom couldn’t, the trophy’s destiny was decided.

Steve Jeffress celebrates after holing the winning putt on the 18th green. PHOTO: Supplied by PGA of Australia

After both players birdied the downwind par-5 17th hole, Jeffress added an exclamation mark with a pinpoint iron to the last hole that led to another birdie and a four-shot margin.

“It was kind of just meant to be in some ways,” said Jeffress, who struck the first shot of the tournament on Thursday morning as well as its final putt on Sunday. “This is always going to have a special place in my heart and I think this is my new favourite golf course.”

The other winner from the week was the Natadola Bay golf course. In a tournament where even-par for 72 holes was always going to count for something, the course did yield several sub-70 scores but only five players finished in red figures for the week. This was the first of five-year deal to stage the Fiji International at Natadola Bay, with future editions looking like they will be held in October. The players who return will learn more about the wind-strewn layout with each visit.

Tournament drawcards Singh and Nice Price made the cut and added colour to the inaugural event. Price, who said one of his goals for the week was to beat Singh, finished eight-over-par but lost to the Fijian, who finished a creditable two-over in a tie for tenth.

Another plus was the return to form of Michael Sim. The West Australian, who has battled back injuries for several seasons, finished equal sixth at even-par despite a last-round 76.

Jeffress said his finish was the result of plenty of hard work. PHOTO: Supplied by PGA of Australia