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Thaworn takes second title in Taiwan

Thai stalwart Thaworn Wiratchant stormed from three shots back to win the US$300,000 Taiwan Open on Sunday, his second title of the season.

The 38-year-old Thaworn fired a superb eight-under-par 64 in the final round at Chang Gung Golf Club to lift the title by one stroke from compatriot Chapchai Nirat, who closed with a 67.

Overnight leader Scott Strange of Australia settled for third place, three shots behind the winner, after a 70 and was tied with Chinese Taipei's Lu Wei-lan and Terry Pilkadaris of Australia.

Thaworn's victory was his sixth on the Asian Tour and the winner's cheque of US$47,250 pushed him back to the top of the Order of Merit, a week after he was overhauled by compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, who did not play in Taipei this week.

"I'm really happy. Everything worked in my favour in the final round," said Thaworn, whose sensational finish tied the course record and helped him post a four-day total of 18-under-par 270.

"At the start of the day, I thought that three shots back were a bit too much for me but when I started to putt well and caught the leaders, I knew I had a good chance to win. It's really nice to be the Order of Merit leader again and I hope to hold on to it for as long as I can."

With solid driving where he missed only one fairway, Thaworn birdied the third, fourth, seventh and eighth holes to turn in 32 and tied for the lead after a sensational chip-in birdie on 10. He went on to birdie the 11th from four feet and drained eight footers for birdies on 12th and 14th holes, both par fives, to surge clear of the pack.

"After my front nine, I thought I had a good chance. That chip in on 10 was crucial as it pushed me into the joint lead and it gave me confidence," said Thaworn, who has now won US$391,563 this season, which is a new Asian Tour record for earnings in a single season.

The 22-year-old Chapchai, playing in his rookie season on Tour, sparkled once again with a runner-up finish to win US$32,400, a week after he finished 11th at the Singapore Open.

The burly Thai turned in 34, and kept up with Thaworn with two more birdies on the par fives on the back nine before running out of holes. He birdied the last hole for a 67.

Thaworn said: "I'm happy for Chapchai. Last night we were talking and he said he wanted to win but felt that I could be the one who would stop him. His time will come."

Lu finished as the best local player in joint third position after signing off with a 67 that included four birdies, one eagle against a lone bogey. Compatriot and halfway leader Chang Tse-peng faded with a 74 for tied 14th place.

Strange, chasing his second title of the year after his success at the Myanmar Open, was in the hunt on the back nine but bogeys at the par five 12th and 14th holes, which Thaworn birdied, proved to be his undoing as he settled for third place.

The Taiwan Open is the 18th leg of this season's Asian Tour, which is offering over US$20 million in total prize money. The Tour remains in Taipei for next week's Mercuries Taiwan Masters where Thaworn is the defending champion.

Leading final round scores
270 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 73-65-68-64
271 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 70-68-66-67
273 - Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 70-65-70-68, Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 70-69-67-67, Scott Strange (AUS) 67-72-64-70
277 - Lu Wen-hsyong (TPE) 69-69-71-68
278 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 73-66-72-67, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 75-64-71-68, Kao Bo-song (TPE) 67-74-68-69, Ted Oh (KOR) 71-70-68-69
279 - Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 69-72-70-68, Hsieh Chin-sheng (TPE) 71-70-68-70, Adam Blyth (AUS) 65-72-68-74
280 - Jason Knutzon (USA) 72-72-66-70, Chen Tsang-te (TPE) 73-68-69-70, Lin Chie-hsiang (TPE) 72-68-69-71, Chang Tse-peng (TPE) 67-67-72-74
281 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 69-73-73-66, Chen Chih-hong (TPE) 72-71-72-66, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 71-73-70-67, Chen Tze-ming (TPE) 72-68-73-68, Gerald Rosales (PHI) 71-67-74-69, Chung Chun-hsing (TPE) 73-70-69-69, Prom Meesawat (THA) 69-75-68-69, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 73-71-67-70, Rick Gibson (CAN) 69-69-71-72, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 66-71-71-73
282 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 75-66-74-67, Arjun Singh (IND) 72-69-72-69, Gary Rusnak (USA) 72-72-69-69, Pat Giles (AUS) 65-75-71-71

September 18, 2005