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Bo Van Pelt wins Asia Pacific

Selangor- American Bo Van Pelt blitzed his way to an emphatic six-shot victory at the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia on Sunday to win only his second US PGA Tour title and pocket a cool $1.3 million.

The strapping 36-year-old had gone into the decisive day a shot ahead of Jeff Overton, who also hails from the US state of Indiana, but Overton crumbled in the face of Van Pelt's flawless 64 that was embellished with seven birdies.

Van Pelt's triumph at the co-sanctioned US PGA Tour and Asian Tour showpiece at The Mines Resort & Golf Club in sweltering Kuala Lumpur nearly doubles his previous biggest pay day and comes two years after his first US PGA Tour win.

"I played well today. I tried to keep to my game plan all week. I've had a couple of chances to win (tournaments) this year and I wanted to learn from that," said Van Pelt, clutching his trophy.

"It's been a great week. I didn't come last year and heard it was great. I've got three young kids at home but my wife and caddie talked me into coming here."

A relaxed-looking Van Pelt took the title at the $6.1-million tournament in convincing fashion with a 23-under-par 261. Three consecutive birdies, on holes 13, 14 and 15, saw the unheralded Van Pelt power to victory.

The likeable Overton, who is still looking for his first US PGA Tour win, buckled in the crippling Malaysian heat. But it was still a good week overall for a man who was only a last-minute call-up to the tournament.

In front of the watching Malaysian king, Sultan Mizan, and in tricky conditions that alternated between ferocious sunshine, threatening cloud and a heavy shower, Overton finished second on 17-under 267 after carding a 69.

His challenge all but evaporated on the 13th, when he made bogey after he was forced to chip the ball out from behind a tree stump. He takes home a cheque of $550 000 for his second place.

It was a memorable day for another American, Ryan Palmer, who shot a hole-in-one on the seventh and finished tied 7th, together with rejuvenated former world No 1 Vijay Singh and Australia's John Senden.

Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson, seven shots off the leader, was third.

Americans Cameron Tringale and Mark Wilson, along with Camilo Villegas of Colombia, were in tied fourth.

Leading final-round scores from the co-sanctioned US PGA Tour and Asian Tour $6.1-million CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (US unless stated): (par 71)

261 - Bo Van Pelt 66-64-67-64
267 - Jeff Overton 67-62-69-69
268 - Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 65-64-71-68
269 - Cameron Tringale 66-68-71-64, Camilo Villegas (COL) 69-66-68-66, Mark Wilson 67-66-67-69
270 - John Senden (AUS) 67-70-68-65, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 72-64-66-68, Ryan Palmer 71-65-67-67
271 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 69-69-67-66, Jerry Kelly 69-66-69-67, Jason Dufner 70-67-65-69
272 - Brandt Snedeker 71-68-67-66, Robert Allenby (AUS) 63-72-70-67, Stewart Cink 67-66-71-68, Jimmy Walker 66-67-71-68, Chris Kirk 71-65-67-69, Danny Chia (MAS) 71-65-66-70
273 - Ricky Barnes 69-71-66-67

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