C.T. Pan extends Asian hold on RBC Heritage title

By Rahul Banerji

The more I practice, the luckier I get, Gary Player famously said. Chinese Taipei golfer C.T. Pan will doff a hat to that sentiment after coming from two shots behind to win the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, South Carolina, on Sunday for his maiden PGA Tour title.

Korea’s 43-year-old K.J. Choi was in the running too on Saturday till a 2-over final round sent him into a tie for 10^th place. Anirban Lahiri earlier missed the cut at the $6.0 million event.

Asians have in fact dominated the RBC Heritage, earlier known as the Heritage Classic, in the last two years, with Satoshi Kodiara getting the better of Korea’s So Woo Kim in a playoff last year.

The 27-year-old had almost pulled it off at the Wyndham Championship last year but drove wide on the final hole to let Brandt Snedeker through to the title This time, he would make no such mistakes, taking the lead with two holes to go and then going par-par to close out Matt Kuchar by one shot.

Tough memory

The memory of that miss last year played a part though.

“It definitely changed my perception on the last couple of holes down the stretch of what I should do,” Pan said later. “The last three holes I would say I played really well here, a lot of good shots just because I told myself I need to focus on the details, the little things, and just stay in the present.

“And that’s something I didn’t do at Wyndham.”

Pan also became only the second from Chinese Taipei after T.C. Chen 32 years ago, to win on the PGA Tour.

Compiled below are a selection of notes provided by the PGA Tour following Pan’s win.

• The last seven winners of the RBC Heritage have all produced come-from-behind victories; 2019 champion C.T. Pan trailed by two strokes (entering the final round); 2018 champion Satoshi Kodaira trailed by six strokes; Wesley Bryan (2017), Jim Furyk (2015), Matt Kuchar (2014) and Graeme McDowell (2013) were all four strokes back; Branden Grace came from three back in 2016

• Pan’s final-round featured five birdies and a lone bogey at the par-5 15th; tied the most one putts recorded in the final round, with 13
• Has improved in his career starts at the RBC Heritage (2019/1; 2018/T23; 2017/T44)
• Victory comes in his 79th Tour start at the age of 27 years, 5 months, 9 days
• Becomes the 14th player to post his first victory at the RBC Heritage: Hale Irwin (1971), Graham Marsh (1977), Doug Tewell (1980), Nick Faldo (1984), Davis Love III (1987), Glen Day (1999), Jose Coceres (2001), Peter Lonard (2005), Aaron Baddeley (2006), Boo Weekley (2007), Branden Grace (2016), Wesley Bryan (2017), Satoshi Kodaira (2018), C.T. Pan (2019)

• Pan became the second player from Chinese Taipei to win a PGA Tour event (1987 Genesis Open /T.C. Chen)
• International players have now won six of the last eight events on the PGA Tour.

Recognition for Dubai Golf

Dubai Golf meanwhile, had a major impact at this year’s 59Club Awards with a total of 10 accolades going to the iconic Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

The 59Club Awards is a top honour in the golf service industry, rewarding top venues across all business foundations. These include management, sales, service, operations, retail, and food and beverage.

The 59Club maintains industry benchmarks, the Gold, Silver and Bronze Flags, which distinguish the finest membership clubs and commercial venues around the globe.

Dubai Golf received the prestigious ‘Golf Group of the Year 2018’ title, while both Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Emirates Golf Club garnered a Gold Flag award. Emirates Golf Club also picked up the award for the ‘Ultimate Members Club’, an award given to the venue that leads the average scores of all venues receiving a Gold Flag.

Stephen Hubner and Gregorio Gonzales from the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club received the ‘Overseas Golf Manager of the Year 2018’ and ‘Overseas Golf Retail Manager of the Year 2018’, respectively.

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club also took home the titles ‘Leisure Membership Sales Team of the Year 2018’ and ‘Overseas Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year 2018’.

Good haul

Emirates Golf Club’s Head of Sports and Leisure, Andy Meech, took the ‘Leading Individual Leisure Membership Sales Performance 2018’ award, while Golf Services Manager, Rhys James was awarded the ‘Overseas Leading Individual Golf Membership Sales Performance 2018’.

Dubai Golf chief executive Chris May, said, “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved such success here at the 59Club service Excellence Awards, and it is with much pride that I was able to collect so many accolades on behalf of Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, as well as the sought-after Golf Group of the year title.

“The expertise, information and staff training support that 59Club has provided us over the years has become a mainstay of our business and has allowed us to deliver a consistently high level of customer service across our entire group operation.

“We pride ourselves on being amongst the very best venues in terms of the visitor and member experience in the world of golf,” he added.

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