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Aramco Team Series: Hong Kong amateur Hyun seals win for Napoleaova, pro so happy she ‘doesn’t care’ about missed cut

  • John Hyun’s birdie at the last secures one-shot win for Kristyna Napoleaova’s team, who combine to fire 21-under in closing round
  • Teammates Laura Fuenfstueck and Magdalena Simmermacher will be playing on Sunday, while Napoleaova watches on

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Aramco Team Series Hong Kong winners Team Napoleaova (from left to right) Magdalena Simmermacher, team captain Kristyna Napoleaova, John Hyun and Laura Fuenfstueck. Photo: Aramco Team Series

Hong Kong amateur John Hyun said his main focus at the Aramco Team Series had been trying “not to mess it up” for the professionals he was playing alongside – holing the winning putt probably qualifies as not doing so.

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Hyun’s net birdie on the par-4 18th on Friday took Kristyna Napoleaova’s team to a combined 31-under-par, a shot clear of Trichat Cheenglab’s group, with Nuria Iturrioz’s side in third at 29-under.

It was the first time in ATS history that an amateur holed the decisive putt, and the 13-handicapper set it up by hammering his drive straight down the middle of the 18th fairway.

“I did get a bit of nerves on 18, but it was the best drive of the day,” Hyun, a long-time member at Hong Kong Golf Club, said.

“It was a little nerve-racking towards the end, we had full-time [television] coverage, and that’s quite … but the guys [cameramen] were very professional, not obtrusive, just I’m not used to it.”

Anne Van Dam looks on at her tee shot on day two of the Aramco Team Series. Photo: AFP
Anne Van Dam looks on at her tee shot on day two of the Aramco Team Series. Photo: AFP

Napoleaova’s group had one of those days when everything worked, and the captain, along with Laura Fuenfstueck and Magdalena Simmermacher all weighed in on the 21-under they shot to take the title.

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