Surname-sake Michael Maguire has brilliantly claimed the biggest victory of his professional career in climbing to the summit of the Asian Tour’s Black Mountain Championship in Thailand.
In an all-American play-off Maguire defeated compatriot John Catlin at the second extra hole after both players ended regulation play tied at the top of the leaderboard on 23-under-par.
Maguire brilliantly got up-and-down from a greenside bunker for birdie at the 72nd hole in his round of 65 before claiming success.
He then claimed victory after Catlin missed a 15-footer for par at the second extra hole.
BRILLIANT RESULT ….
With surname-sake Michael Maguire securing @asiantourgolf #BMChamps in a second-hole play-off #InternationalSeries
Well done fellow Maguire (Bernie)
✅ @T pic.twitter.com/nBKjpQilpc
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) October 20, 2024
Victory is just the 31-year-old Maguire’s second of his pro career but easily the biggest money-earner in picking-up a prize cheque for $360,000 while he’ll make a huge jump on the World Rankings in moving to his current World No. 860 ranking to around 95th in the world.
The Florida-attached Maguire made it through the Asian Tour Qualifying School at the beginning of last year, in fourth place, and kept his card after finishing 56th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
That season was helped in a big way by tying for fourth in the International Series Vietnam, which had been his best finish on the Asian Tour before today’s epiphany.
“It was a fun battle down the back,” he added.
“John and I were kind of back and forth. I think I tied him on the seventh hole, six hole, and then we had a two-shot swing on nine. It was kind of big, but I knew two shots is nothing out here on this course, especially with the finish, you know, having a couple holes we could reach, by getting close to the green with drivers.
“So, it was just staying close and just kind of being patient was kind of my biggest thing, and then having to roll in a few nice ones.”
Despite Catlin’s disappointment he remains atop of the Asian Tour Order of Merit while Maguire has moved-up to fourth.
England’s Chris Wood, who GolfByTourMiss featured earlier this week, posted a closing score of 69 to make if four rounds in the 60s and share 33rd place at 13-under that earned him $14,000.
