Hong Kong amateur John Hyun said his main focus at the Aramco Team Series had been trying “not to mess it up” for the professionals he was playing alongside – holing the winning putt probably qualifies as not doing so.
Hyun’s net birdie on the par-4 18th on Friday took Kristyna Napoleaova’s team to a combined 31-under-par, a shot clear of Trichat Cheenglab’s group, with Nuria Iturrioz’s side in third at 29-under.
It was the first time in ATS history that an amateur holed the decisive putt, and the 13-handicapper set it up by hammering his drive straight down the middle of the 18th fairway.
“I did get a bit of nerves on 18, but it was the best drive of the day,” Hyun, a long-time member at Hong Kong Golf Club, said.
“It was a little nerve-racking towards the end, we had full-time [television] coverage, and that’s quite … but the guys [cameramen] were very professional, not obtrusive, just I’m not used to it.”
Napoleaova’s group had one of those days when everything worked, and the captain, along with Laura Fuenfstueck and Magdalena Simmermacher all weighed in on the 21-under they shot to take the title.
Fuenfstueck hailed the “double bonus” of having an amateur who was not “just a great player, but also a great person”.
In the race to win the individual event, Simmermacher finished the second round at three-under and in a tie for 16th, while Fuenfstueck is a shot further back ahead of Sunday’s final round. Napoleaova, however, struggled to six over and will not be involved.
“It’s really tough, because the first thing you want to focus on is playing as an individual,” Napoleaova said. “Unfortunately I missed the cut, but I’m so happy.
“It’s such a surreal feeling to actually win the Aramco Team Series, with the girls and John, I just can’t describe it. It’s an amazing feeling, and I’m super happy and even though I missed the cut, I don’t care.”
The individual ATS title should come down to a straight fight between Jin-young Ko, Janet Lin Xiyu and Anne Van Dam, who are separated by just one shot.
Overnight leader Ko’s three-under 70 took her to 11-under overall, while Lin carded an inspired 66 to join her at the top of the leaderboard. Van Dam, meanwhile, was left to rue a bogey at the last and a round of 69 that left her 10 under.
Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan is not far behind in a tie for eighth at four under, and for the second day running, she finished with back-to-back birdies.
“It just happened too late the last two days,” Chan said.
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