JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Rory Hie announced his arrival among the professional golfing ranks Saturday, winning the International Championship on the Mercedes-Benz tour in impressive style.
Hie, who turned professional in August following a brilliant college career in the United States, fired a final round two-under-par 70 to finish three strokes clear of another rising star from Indonesia, Mauludin Andik.
Jay Bayron and Rey Pagunsan of the Philippines finished third and fourth, respectively. Two other Pinoys, Cassius Casas and Michael Bibat, were 10 strokes off.
Bayron had a 70 on the final day and with his previous rounds of 69-70-73 wound up at 282, just four strokes off the winner. Pagunsan closed out with a 69 after going 76-68-72 for a 285 total.
Casas fired a 69 and Bibat a 71 to finish at 288.
“It feels great to win. I am glad I did especially as I had a four-shot lead at the start of the day,” said Hie, who earned a place in the season-ending Mercedes-Benz Masters in Thailand.