Big win for Niall Turner on Asian Development Tour
Niall Turner with his cheque
Muskerry's Niall Turner has won on the Asian Development Tour in Jakarta — a major boost to him after a run of illness and injury.
Turner, 30, has been out of action for much of the last 18 months due to a series of hip injuries. An attack of heat stroke in a tournament in Malaysia also forced an extended spell away from the game.
But everything clicked into place as he claimed the Linc Group Jakarta Classic over the Imperial Club course in Jakarta, firing rounds of 72, 70, 68 and 69 to win by one from pal Peter Richardson of England on 10 under par.
"I really needed this win," said Turner, who won US$10,500 and earned six Official World Golf Ranking points. "It has been quite grim in the last few years because I had a bad hip injury since 2011. That was the only thing holding me back.
"I was born with a defect in my hip and had to go through some surgery. My hip feels great now although I had to make slight changes in my swing.
“Winning a tournament really gives you the confidence. It will be an important few weeks on the ADT and I really want to get back on the Asian Tour. Hopefully I can stay healthy and continue my form.
“I’ve had two very frustrating years of inactivity but played very well over the last three days. I did get off to a slow start in the fourth round and Peter Richardson, an English golfer and a good friend I frequently room with over here, got dangerously close before I settled and parred my way home for a very significant win.
“I am now 10th in the order of merit in spite of a restricted number of tournaments. At the end of the year, there are five Asian Tour places on offer and I now play two good money events in Taipei. Hopefully this win proves a turning point.”
Leading fourth round scores:
278 – Niall TURNER (IRL) 70 68 67 73
279 – Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 72 70 68 69
281 – Annop TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 69 73 71 68
283 – Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 71 72 73 67, Grant JACKSON (ENG) 69 68 76 70, Brett MUNSON (USA) 67 69 75 72
284 – CHOO Tze Huang (SIN) 73 70 73 68, Konosuke NAKAZATO (JPN) 71 70 71 72
286 – Arie IRAWAN (MAS) 77 69 70 70
287 – I Ketut SUGIARTA (INA) 71 70 76 70, Jordan SHERRATT (AUS) 71 74 70 72
