Norquist triumphs in Open thriller

AMERICA'S Gerry Norquist made consecutive birdies on the final three holes and then defeated compatriot Greg Hanrahan in a dramatic sudden-death play-off to win the Omega Tour's US$150,000 Royal Perak Classic in Ipoh, Malaysia, yesterday. Norquist, who finished with a 16-under-par 272, pulled back a two-stroke deficit with two holes to play before sinking a 13-foot putt on the first extra hole to collect the US$24,255 winner's prize.

His final-round five-under-par 67 included six birdies and a solitary bogey over the 6,798-yard Royal Perak Golf Club, while overnight leader Hanrahan hit five birdies and a bogey for a four-under 68. Norquist, winner of the 1993 Malaysian Open, appeared to have lost all chance of forcing a play-off when he hit his second shot on the 18th into the sand. But he responded with a superb bunker shot and left the ball three feet from the pin for a birdie. The play-off, on the par-five 18th, saw both players hit two good drives but Norquist had a better lie for his third shot and left the ball safely on the green 13 feet from the pin. Hanrahan, however, failed to get any spin on the ball and it overran the flag by 20 feet.

'I pride myself on never giving up and that's what enabled me to win today,' said 28-year-old Norquist. 'Greg was playing superbly down the stretch and was definitely in control, but I said to myself if I can just hang in there and grind it out then anything can happen.' 'I must admit that when I was two up with two to play I didn't see how I was going to lose it,' said 38-year-old Hanrahan. 'I felt in control of my shots and it's a credit to Gerry that he pulled it back the way he did - three birdies on the last three holes and then a birdie in the play-off.' Hong Kong's Derek Fung carded a final-round 72 to claim a share of fifth place.