MONDAY WRAP: Gibson fires 62, falls one short of Indo win

A course record 62 for NSW's Rhein Gibson was not enough in the final round of the Indonesia PGA with Japan’s Michio Matsumura snatching the win by a shot.

Japan’s Michio Matsumura birdied the last three holes to grab victory by a shot from surging Aussie Rhein Gibson in a rain-interrupted final round of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship.

The 31-year-old had rounds of 65, 67, 67 and 68 to finish 21 under par around the Damai Indah Golf’s 6,545-metre course to claim the $180,000 winner’s cheque.

Japan's Micho Matsumura of Japan poses with the trophy after winning the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship. PHOTO: Oneasia

NSW’s Gibson (62) and Filipino Juvic Pagunsan (69) shared second place, while China’s Wu Ashun (69) was alone in fourth.

Matsumura trailed 54-hole leader Park Sang-hyun by a shot going into the final round and looked to have blown his chance after starting with a bogey and then doubling the 6^th hole. But six birdies on the back nine – including a 24-footer across the 17^th green – saw him put his nose in front.

A three-time winner on the Japan Tour, Matsumura said he was delighted to win abroad for the first time.

“It has been my dream since I became a professional to win a tournament outside Japan,” he said. “It is a great honour to win this title at such a beautiful course.”

Gibson had set the pace earlier in day with an incredible 62 that equalled the course record set by Gaganjeet Bhullar in 2007.

The 28-year-old, a OneAsia Q-School graduate in 2013, is the official world record holder of the lowest ever score by a professional – a 17-under-par 55 he shot at River Oaks Golf Club in his adopted home of Oklahoma in the United States – but the final round was a career best in a sanctioned tournament.

Rhein Gibson chips in for one of ten birdies during his record final round. PHOTO: Oneasia

Gibson, who finished fourth at the Emirates Australian Open last year to earn one of three slots available to the 2014 Open Championship, had an eagle, ten birdies and two bogeys in an amazing round that was interrupted for nearly three hours by a thunderstorm when he was on the 17th hole.

“I had some good yardages and just hit it to within a couple of feet,” he said. “I had some really cheap birdies and that’s what really got me going.”

Bogeys on 10 and 14 saw Pagunsan, a winner here in 2007, slip out of contention, but he birdied three of the last four holes to bounce back into contention.

“It just wasn’t going to be the day today,” he said.

OneAsia’s next event is the US$3.2 million Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club in China from April 24 to 27.

LEADERBOARD

1. Michio Matsumura (Jpn) 65-67-67-68–267

T2. Rhein Gibson (NSW) 69-65-72-62–268

T2. Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 67-64-68-69–268

4. Wu Ashun (PRC) 69-68-64-69–270

5. Maeng Dong-seop (S.Kor) 67-69-70-65–271

ALSO:

T13. David Smail (NZ) 67-68-71-68–274

T22. Matt Griffin (Vic) 68-69-73-66–276

T22. Kevin Lee (Qld) 73-68-69-66–276