American Charlie Saxon claimed his fourth PGA Tour Series-China title with a one-shot victory over Chinese youngster Jin Zhang at the RMB 1.5 million Guilin Championship.
Saxon has now equalled current PGA Tour player Zecheng “Marty” Dou, who won four times in 2016 for the most victories on the China Series which started in 2014.
Saxon, 25, holed a pressure-packed seven-foot par putt on the final hole for a 3-under 69 and an 18-under total of 270 at the stunning Guilin Landscape Golf Club to claim his second Tour title in his last three events, after a victory in Changsha and a joint runner-up finish in Haikou last month.
The 22-year-old Zhang, who led Saxon by one after round three and was co-leader after the second round, struggled in the opening holes then clawed his way back to within one after No. 17, but couldn’t birdie the par-4 closing hole.
Canada’s Justin Shin, who shared second with Saxon at last month’s Haikou Championship, fired a 67 to secure third at 16-under.
Malaysia’s Arie Irawan closed with 69 to share fourth place at 13-under with Sweden’s Oskar Arvidsson (71) – the best result for both men in their first full seasons on the tour.
RESULTS:
270 (-18) – Charlie Saxon (USA) 69-65-67-69
271 (-17) – Jin Zhang (CHN) 69-64-67-71
272 (-16) – Justin Shin (CAN) 68-71-66-67
275 (-13) – Arie Irawan (MAS) 68-66-72-69; Oskar Arvidsson (SWE) 70-66-68-71
276 (-12) – Alexander Belt (ENG) 68-69-68-71; Paul Imondi (USA) 69-64-69-74
277 (-11) – Aron Zemmer (ITA) 72-68-70-67; Xuewen Luo (CHN) 72-69-69-67; Daxing Jin (CHN) 70-66-71-70
