Khon Kaen, Thailand; July 2: Course specialist Udorn Duangdecha survived a mid-round stumble to complete a wire-to-wire victory at the Singha E-San Open on Saturday for his second win on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
The 40-year-old Thai fired a final round one-under-par 71 to triumph by four shots from countrymen Prom Meesawat, Chawalit Plaphol and Tanutchan Puaktes at Singha Park Golf Club.
It was Udorn’s second straight win at the lengthy 7,382-yard layout following his success at the King’s Cup on the Asian Tour last November.
“Winning here last year gave me a lot of confidence and I knew I could win again,” said Udorn. “I am delighted with the victory on one of my favourite courses.
“It is a long course and very windy. It is a course I like and it suits my game. There are not many players who can win in the wind so that made me confident.”
The flashy Udorn, sporting a pair of black-and-white chequered flag pants, had the winning line in his sights early on with two birdies in the first 10 holes as his nearest challengers failed to make a charge.
He had a four-shot advantage at the turn but back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th caused him some nervous moments. A birdie at the 15th settled any jitters he had and with the wind making scoring difficult for the chasing pack, he cruised home with an overall score of 18-under 270.
“I was a bit concerned after the bogeys as I was not putting well from short range,” said Udorn, whose first victory on the ASEAN PGA Tour came at the 2010 Singha Pattaya Open.
“But the wind was so strong that I did not think anybody could catch me.”
Prom shot a bogey-free 66 to jump up the leaderboard and continue a return to the form that saw him hailed as one of the biggest prospects in Asian golf after his win in the 2006 SK Telecom Open.
The burly 26 year old has qualified for this month’s British Open at Royal St George’s and feels his game is in good shape ahead of the year’s third Major.
“It was a great week for me and the perfect way for me to get ready for the British Open,” said Prom, whose renaissance peaked with victory at the Singha Pattaya Open in May.
“I am going to see my coach and my sports psychologist before I go to England. After my performance this week, I will head to the British Open with a lot of confidence.”
Chawalit came into the event as hot favourite after his win in last month’s Queen’s Cup on the Asian Tour and he was delighted with his closing 68 that clinched joint runner-up spot.
“I have a good feeling about my game and this week has given me more desire for the rest of the season,” said Chawalit, who won twice on the ASEAN PGA Tour last year after a period in the doldrums.
Tanutchan drew within one shot of Udorn after two early birdies but three bogeys derailed his challenge. He carded an even-par 72 for the best finish of his career.
The next event on the ASEAN PGA Tour schedule is the Negeri Sembilan Masters Invitational at Seremban International Golf Club from July 7-10. – www.aseanpgatour.com
Leading final round scores (Thai unless stated)
270 – Udorn Duangdecha 66-65-68-71
274 – Prom Meesawat 66-69-73-66, Chawalit Plaphol 70-69-67-68, Tanutchan Puaktes 70-65-67-72
275 – Poosit Supupramai 68-67-67-73
276 – Chapchai Nirat 70-66-71-69
277 – Pariya Junhasavasdikul 71-66-73-67
278 – Thaworn Wiratchant 66-73-67-72
279 – Marvin Dumandan (PHI) 75-68-68-68, Ferdie Aunzo (PHI) 70-71-69-69, Namchok Tantipokhakul 71-67-69-72 280 – Atthaphon Prathummanee 70-73-71-66, Chawinroj Rungsrichai 68-68-71-73
Selected
281 – Jay Bayron (PHI) 71-71-68-71
