Taipei: Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wei-chih had a crucial birdie on the closing hole to thank after it gave him his second Asian Tour title at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) on Sunday.
Lu posted a final round three-under-par 69 for a four-day total of five-under-par 283 to deny compatriot Lu Wen-teh his sixth Tour win as well as the opportunity to become the second oldest winner in the Asian Tour history at 48 years and 225 days.
Wen-teh closed with a 73 to take second place on 284 while Mars Pucay of the Philippines signed off with a 74 to take third place. Australia’s Adam Groom posted a 72 to share fourth place with Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang and Kao Shang-hung on 287 in the US$300,000 full field Asian Tour event.
Starting the day five shots off the lead, Wei-chih made his move quickly with a flawless outward-nine that was highlighted by birdies on holes one, four and nine. He reached the turn in 33 and continued the momentum with another birdie on the par-five 10th at the Linkou International Golf Club.It then turned into a battle of youth verus experience as Wei-chih and Wen-teh went head-to-head right up till the 18th hole.
The contest was finally over when Wei-chih sank his decisive birdie from nine-feet to end a six-year title drought. “The winning feeling is second to none and it’s even sweeter when you win at home,” said Wei-chih. “That birdie on the last hole was exceptionally crucial. I knew that it was not over as Wen-teh still had a chance to force a play-off with two more holes to play. But as he could only manage pars, I’m happy that I won,” added Wei-chih.
Overnight leader Chan Shih-chang had a round to forget, carding a bogey-ridden 79 to finish sole seventh on even-par 288 while Malaysia’s Khor Kheng Hwai ended his painful week in Taipei with tied-33rd finish after another bout of cramps saw him close with a poor 81. Ben Leong was the nation’s best placed finisher, taking a share of 18th on three-over-par 291 after a final round 73.
Leading final round scores
283 – Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 70-73-71-69
284 – Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 70-70-71-73
286 – Mars Pucay (PHI) 70-71-71-74
287 – Kao Shang-hung (TPE) 75-72-73-67, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 70-74-73-70, Adam GROOM (AUS) 71-73-71-72
288 – Chan Shih-chang (TPE) 72-67-70-79
289 – Zaw Moe (MYN) 72-71-78-68, Simon Griffiths (ENG) 70-77-74-68, Lu Tze-shyan (TPE) 71-71-78-69, Ben Fox (USA) 73-73-71-72
290 – Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA) 69-75-73-73, Jonathan Moore (USA) 70-77-70-73, Chen Hao-sen (TPE) 69-72-75-74, Hsieh Tung-shu (TPE) 72-70-73-75
