2005 Carlsberg Masters Vietnam - Round 4: Thaworn enjoys record fourth win

Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant enjoyed another record breaking feat when he clinched the US$200,000 Carlsberg Masters 2005 Vietnam presented by Thai Airways International by two strokes on Sunday.

The in-form Thai carded a final round of one-under-par 71 at Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club for his fourth title of the year. He became the first player to win four Asian Tour tournaments in a season.

With a four-day total of seven-under-par 281, he won US$31,500, with England's Chris Rodgers settling for second place, his best finish yet in Asia. Rodgers made a late comeback with two birdies over his last three holes for a 73 while Philippines Frankie Minoza settled for third after a 70 and finished on 284.

Japan’s Yoshinobu Tsakada shared fourth position on 286 together with Hong Kong’s James Stewart and Danny Chia of Malaysia. Stewart returned a 72 while Chia, who was the co-overnight leader with Thaworn and Rodgers, shot a disappointing 76.

“I am very happy to win here as this is a tough course and is not very forgiving. The cold weather did not make it any easier earlier in the week but thankfully I had a good solid round today,” said Thaworn, who triumphed in Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and India this year.

With his latest success, Thaworn solidified his position at the top of the Asian Tour Order Of Merit with US$483,420 and now leads countryman Thongchai Jaidee who is second on US$386,120.33. His earnings is already a record for money won in a single season and Thaworn is poised to become the first player to break the US$500,000 mark.

Three lucrative events remain this year, the Volvo China Open, UBS Hong Kong Open and season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia, but Thaworn is not prepared to pop the champagne just yet as he nears his dream of winning the Order of Merit title.

“Anything can still happen and I should not let my guard down as the season comes to a close,” said Thaworn.

Thaworn and Rodgers were tied for the lead at the turn before the Englishman dropped off the pace with four consecutive bogeys. The Thai shot birdies on the fourth and sixth hole but dropped a bogey on the ninth.

With Rodgers dropping shots on the back nine, the Thai bogeyed the 14th but made sure of victory with a closing birdie on the par five 557 yards 18th hole.

Rodgers struggled to cope with Thaworn but courageously birdied 16 and 18 to finish second on his own. “What can I say, it was just fantastic to come back after having a string of poor run on the back nine,” said Rodgers.

“I struggled today but overall it was a great experience since it was my first time competing here in Vietnam,” he said.

Minoza secured third place with three birdies over his closing five holes while Chia, who had a disastrous start with four dropped shots over his first three holes, earned a share of fourth place with a birdie on 18.

Local amateur Huynh Van Son, the only Vietnamese to make the cut, completed the fourth round with a 76 and a total of 304 to settle for tied 59th place.

Round 4 Results

281 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 72-66-72-71
283 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 67-74-69-73
284 - Frankie Minoza (PHI) 70-68-76-70
286 - Yoshinobu Tsukada (JPN) 69-71-73-73, James Stewart (HKG) 70-71-73-72, Danny Chia (MAS) 66-74-70-76
287 - Ron Won (USA) 71-73-75-68, Dean Alaban (AUS) 71-74-74-68, Firoz Ali (IND) 75-68-74-70
288 - Chris Travers (AUS) 72-73-75-68, Suk Jong-Ryul (KOR) 71-74-71-72
289 - Amandeep Johl (IND) 75-70-73-71, Richard Backwell (AUS) 71-75-72-71
290 - Mukesh Kumar (IND) 72-73-72-73
291 - Gerald Rosales (PHI) 72-76-73-70, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 72-78-70-71
292 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 73-75-73-71, Corey Harris (USA) 71-77-74-70
Lin Chie-Hsiang (TPE) 71-75-73-73, Akinori Tani (JPN) 71-75-72-74, Anthony Kang (USA) 75-71-72-74, Simon Yates (SCO) 71-74-72-75

November 20, 2005

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