Gale wins Morobe title

DANIEL Gale overcame a two-shot deficit in yesterday’s final round to be crowned the 2018 Trukai Morobe Open champion.
Gale finished tied with Damien Jordan at 22 under par in regulation play, before holding his nerve on the final playoff hole to claim victory and the Rick and Betty Green trophy.
On a perfect afternoon for scoring, spectators were treated to a final round shootout between Gale and Jordan, as both players went shot for shot over the final nine holes.
Jordan birdied the 10th and 11th to open up a four shot lead, though it would be Gale that would hit back next with birdies on the next three holes to reduce the gap back to one.
Further birdies at the 16th hole had Jordan one shot in front with two holes to play, though when Gale birdied the 17th, both headed to the final hole tied for the lead.
With the pressure on, both players made their four-foot birdie putts on the final hole to force a playoff.
In search of the largest win of his career, Gale made the first move with a birdie at the opening hole of a three-hole aggregate playoff to Jordan’s par.
After both players made par on the second playoff hole, it was Gale that stood on the 18th tee with a one-shot lead.
Jordan decided to lay up in the perfect position on the third playoff hole, while Gale went for the par 5 in two.
Unfortunately his second would find the water left of the green, as it looked as though the door had been opened for Jordan to extend the playoff.
Jordan played an almost perfect pitch to one metre, and after Gale took his penalty drop pitched it to within one foot from the hole.
The pressure was all on Jordan, but when his birdie putt grazed the left edge of the hole, Gale had his putt for the win which he made no mistake with.
“It’s a great feeling winning the Morobe Open. It was awesome to win the Sydney Invitational but my win this week certainly tops that,” Gale said.
“Damien played really well today after drawing level with him on the front nine it wasn’t until the second last hole that I was finally able to once again draw even. There were some clutch shots made by both of us over the final few holes.
“I have never been involved in an aggregate playoff before, and when my second shot found the water on the final hole I thought I had opened the door for Damien.
“Unfortunately he was unable to convert his birdie putt, giving me the opportunity to close it out, which thankfully I managed to do,” Gale said.