John Catlin made some more Asian Tour history on Saturday, becoming the first player to win back-to-back events in five years with this triumph at the Saudi Open.
And a month removed from the 59 he shot on his way to winning the International Series Macau, Catlin was a missed-putt away from becoming the first player on the Tour to be bogey free over 72 holes.
As it was, the American had to settle for a dominating wire-to-wire victory, with a five-under-par 66 leaving him 24 under for the tournament and seven shots clear of his nearest challenger at Riyadh Golf Club.
That honour fell to Wade Ormsby, who closed out his week with a 64, for his best finish since winning the International Series Thailand more than a year ago.
American Peter Uihlein ended strongly shooting a 63 to share third place, nine behind the champion, with Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand, who returned a 67.
Catlin became the first player to win successive events on the Tour since Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond in 2019, when he claimed the Indonesian Masters and Thailand Masters.
“I am tired, but very, very happy,” said the 32-year-old, after his sixth victory on the Asian Tour.
“I’ve never gone back-to-back like that. It is pretty special to finish back-to-back events holding the hardware. Yeah, it was just a special week and I feel very lucky to be the champion.”
The American started the day with an eight-shot lead and not surprisingly was never challenged, the only blemish the seven-footer at the par-3 14th that did not drop.
“I just kept telling myself just stay right here in the present. You know, the brain always wants to think about what might happen, or what could happen, and you just keep hitting the shot in front of you.
“And I just kept doing that, just kept telling myself over and over again, just keep staying in the present, keep staying in the present, keep executing this golf shot. I was able to do it.”
The Asian Tour now has a week off before heading to the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Korea.
