BANGKOK: Prayad Marksaeng became only the third Thai to win his country's national championship with a two-stroke victory in the $1 million Thailand Open at the Thana City Golf and Sports Club yesterday.
Prayad's rounds of 68, 67, 65 and 64 left him with a 24 under-par total of 264 to claim the winner's purse of $180,000 and the King's Trophy donated by the country's monarch.
"This means so much to me," Prayad said moments after signing his scorecard. "Yes I cried a bit... I am happy the King's Trophy will stay in Thailand," according to a statement by organizers.
Prayad took a celebratory jump into the lake adjoining the 18th green after the prize presentation.
Australian Scott Strange (67), who had pushed Prayad all the way, bogeyed on the last to leave him two strokes adrift.
Countryman Nick Cullen (65) was a shot further behind while six players shared fourth place — including defending champion Chris Wood (70).
Overnight leader Lucas Lee of Brazil struggled to get his round together and had to settle for a share of 12th after carding a 73, while three-time major winner Padraig Harrington (66) could not recover from a disastrous third-round 75 and finished at 14 under.
Only two other Thais have won the national open — Suthep Meesawat (1991) and Boonchu Ruangkit (1992, 2004).
Two shots off the pace overnight and starting in the second last group of the day, Prayad, 47, had a birdie-birdie-birdie start — although a bogey on the easy par-five fifth briefly halted his progression.
Four birdies in-a-row straddling the turn put him back in the driver's seat, and an audacious chip-in birdie from the fringe on the 16th meant the chasing pack had it all to do.
Aiken wins Avantha Masters
In Greater Noida, India,Thomas Aiken of South Africa led from start to finish on the final day to win the $2.3 million Avantha Masters by three shots yesterday.
Aiken, who began the last round with a three-stroke lead, scored a flawless five-under 67 and sealed his second win on the European Tour with a birdie at the 18th hole.
The 29-year-old from Johannesburg finished with an overall score of 23-under 265, three shots ahead of local boy Gaganjeet Bhullar at the Greg Norman-designed par-72 Jaypee Greens outside New Delhi.
Aiken, who won the Open de Espana in 2011, earned 300,000 euros (approximately $392,000) for his efforts that followed compatriot Jbe Kruger's triumph in the Avantha Masters last year.
Bhullar, who was six shots behind the leader at the start, fired an eight-under 64 to come in at 268, ending his campaign with three birdies in the last five holes to keep the pressure on Aiken.
Bhullar finished two strokes ahead of third-placed Liang Wenchong of China, who had overcome a double-bogey on the sixth with a spectacular hole-in-one on the par-three seventh.
"It's a big relief to win because the others played unbelievable golf," said Aiken. "There was no breathing space the whole day with Gaganjeet having so many birdies towards the end.
"It was no walk in the park, but I think I played the par-fives well. This has been a fantastic week in India and ended just the way I wanted it to."
Aiken was the sixth South African to win a European tour events this year following the success of Charl Schwartzel at the Alfred Dunhill championships, Louis Oosthuizen (Volvo Golf Champions), Richard Sterne (Johannesburg Open), Darren Fichardt (Africa Open) and Dawie Van der Walt (Tshwane Open).
Bhullar, cheered on by some 500 Indian fans, birdied the first three holes, had an eagle on the fifth before a spectacular finish saw him birdie three of the last five holes.
"After a few weeks, no one will remember that I came second. Everyone will only talk of Thomas," said the 24-year-old. "But the important thing is that my game has improved.
"This tournament was like a putting competition. Everyone was hitting the ball long, it all depended on how you putted. I thought Thomas would make a mistake somewhere, but he played solidly the last two days."
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, who was in the last group with Aiken and Liang, finished fourth on 271.
India's richest golf event was co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.