2006 Volvo Masters of Asia - One tournament, two champions

In one tournament, two great champions emerged.

Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee proved to be the grand Master of the Asian Tour's season finale, the Volvo Masters of Asia, with a second title in four years and when the last putt of 2006 dropped, India's Jeev Milkha Singh was crowned Asia's new king of golf.

The final event of the season provided all the drama and thrills at Thai Country Club, with Thongchai and Singh playing starring roles.

Hometown hero Thongchai survived a nervy double bogey finish to end a frustrating 22-month winless run and in lifting the Volvo showpiece, he tied compatriot Thaworn Wiratchant's record eight victories in Asia.

Thongchai's one-stroke triumph, courtesy of rounds of 68, 68, 69 and 72 for an 11-under-par 277 aggregate, also extended a wonderful record of having won in every year since 2000. "I feel very happy, I was very lucky," said Thongchai.

"It is good to win in Thailand. I feel great. My driver and putting worked this week. My putting was good coming in and I made everything. It was very good."

Winner in 2003 on home soil, Thongchai seized the lead in the second round and never took his foot off the pedal, until the 72nd hole. With a three-shot lead, his victory march up the 18th was error-filled.

The former paratrooper found thick rough twice, landed in a bunker and scrambled onto the green side in four. Two nervous putts later, Thongchai celebrated a first title of 2006, worth US$104,000.

Filipino legend Frankie Minoza tied for the lead at the halfway stage before settling for second place. He charged into contention with an outward 33 that included a hat-trick of birdies from the seventh hole. But a bogey on the 10th punctured his hopes before another birdie on the 14th and a bogey on the 17th.

"This has been the best week of the year for me. I played well and mounted a challenge before bogeying the 17th hole," said the 46-year-old Minoza, the eldest player in the elite field.

Charlie Wi of Korea took third place while 2005 Asian number one Thaworn's hopes dipped dramatically after running up a bogey and double bogey on the 15th and 16th hole, finding water on both occasions.

"Two bad shots ruined my chances," rued Thaworn, who tied for the lead with Minoza and Thongchai with nine holes remaining. "On the 16th hole I shanked the tee shot into the water. I could not believe it."

India's Singh wrapped up marathon season by ending his 40th tournament of the year around the globe in tied sixth place on 282. "My holiday starts now," smiled Singh, who accumulated a record US$591,884 to win the UBS Order of Merit. "I didn't hit the ball well the whole week. It's been a long season. I hope starting next year, things will get better but it'll be tough to repeat what I did this year."

Leading final round scores:

277 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68-68-69-72
278 - Frankie Minoza (PHI) 76-64-68-70
279 - Charlie Wi (KOR) 71-69-70-69
280 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 72-65-70-73
281 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-70-72-71
282 - Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 69-70-73-70, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 72-66-72-72, Edward Loar (USA) 71-68-71-72, David Bransdon (AUS) 76-65-69-72
283 - Andrew Buckle (AUS) 71-70-71-71, S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 70-70-71-72, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 67-72-68-76
285 - Anthony Kang (USA) 76-64-73-72, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 71-70-69-75
286 - Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 72-69-73-72
287 - Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 74-70-73-70, Iain Steel (MAS) 69-72-66-80
288 - Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 71-74-70-73
289 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 69-73-74-73, Simon Yates (SCO) 72-71-72-74, Angelo Que (PHI) 72-71-70-76
290 - Rick Gibson (CAN) 72-75-71-72, Barry Hume (SCO) 74-71-71-74, Lee Sung (KOR) 69-70-74-77, Gary Rusnak (USA) 71-72-71-76, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 68-73-71-78, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 68-75-69-78
291 - Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 73-73-75-70, Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 71-70-78-72, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 69-73-76-73, Adam Groom (AUS) 69-75-74-73, Kane Webber (AUS) 77-68-72-74, Jason Knutzon (USA) 71-70-74-76, Unho Park (AUS) 70-70-74-77, Yasin Ali (ENG) 72-69-71-79

December 3 , 2007

Bookmark page with:

Return to Top of Page