2007 Brunei Open - Round 4: Lin claims second victory with stunning comeback

Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang overcame a six-shot deficit to lift the US$300,00 Brunei Open title over a faltering Adam Le Vesconte of Australia on Sunday.

Lin produced a stunning fightback with a flawless six-under-par 65 in the final round at the Empire Hotel and Country Club to claim his second Asian Tour title by two strokes from overnight leader Le Vesconte, who carded a 73.

Filipino Tony Lascuna ended a fine fortnight with a second successive top-three finish after he shot a 70 to share third place with Chinese Taipei veteran Lu Wen-teh (70) and Australian Scott Barr (66), three behind the winner.

Thailand’s exciting prospect Panuwat Muenlek was sixth after a 67 while last year’s winner Wang Ter-chang, also from Chinese Taipei, settled for tied seventh place, six shots back.

A brilliant Lin nailed six birdies on the day against no bogeys and accumulated a winning total of 15-under-par 269. “The winning feeling is simply wonderful! I started the day six behind the leader but I did not have a specific game plan. I told myself that every shot that I hit had to be a very good one.

“I said whatever happens today, I just wanted to play a good round of golf and we’ll see what happens. I knew that I was closing in on the leader and I was feeling very nervous but I told myself to stay focused and maintain my composure,” said Lin

Lin, who took home US$47,550 and rose to 30th place on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, launched his title charge with four birdies on the front nine to trail Le Vesconte by one at the turn.

With the Aussie dropping into a tie for the lead with a bogey on 10, Lin snatched the lead for the first time when he drained an eight footer for birdie on 12. The 33-year-old led by two following another six foot birdie conversion but was forced to save a crucial par from four feet on 17 to hold off his pursuers.

“The par save was very important and I just managed to roll that it. That was an important hole in this tournament,” said Lin, who also qualified for the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in November.

Le Vesconte held at least a share of the lead since the opening round and was disappointed with his finish. His overnight four-shot lead disappeared quickly with a costly triple bogey six on the fourth hole when he needed three shots to escape the greenside bunker after catching a horrendous lie.

A one-hour 15 minute weather suspension provided the Australian with a brief respite as he fought back with two birdies but with his game failing to fire on all cylinders, Lin simply swept past him on the home stretch.

“The triple bogey hurt my chances,” said Vesconte. “I pulled my six iron into the bunker face and got plugged and I had no stance what so ever, and needed three shots to get out.

“I played okay for the next few holes but I kept making silly bogeys. The putter wasn’t good today. I missed a few putts from three or four feet which I haven’t done all week. It just wasn’t to be.”

Vesconte rued a three-putt bogey on 15 and another short par miss on 17. “It’s disappointing but I’m happy with the last two weeks (where he was 10th in Malaysia). It shows I can still compete which is what I’ve been lacking drive wise because I’ve been playing so badly since my win (in the 2005 Philippine Open),” he said.

It has been a dream two weeks for Lascuna, who finished tied second in last week’s Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia. His third place cheque of US$15,130 will safely keep him inside the top-60 of the UBS Order of Merit, which is the cut-off to qualify for the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok and earn full playing rights for the 2008 season.

“I’m very happy. My target today was top five, so this is good. It’s nice. At least now I’ve kept my card for next season,” said Lascuna.

He started the day four back but fought into contention with two birdies on the front nine. But an outward 37 put paid to his title hopes. “I hit some wrong irons on the back nine. I bogeyed 16 when I hit my five iron to the back of the green and the sand trap and that ended my chances.”

Leading final round scores (click here for full leaderboard):

269 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 65-68-71-65

271 - Adam Le Vesconte (AUS) 65-65-68-73

272 - Scott Barr (AUS) 71-68-67-66, Tony Lascuna (PHI) 70-66-66-70, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 66-70-66-70

274 - Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 67-70-70-67

275 - Wang Ter-Chang (TPE) 70-66-71-68, Neven Basic (AUS) 66-68-73-68

276 - Scott Hend (AUS) 65-74-68-69, Michael Wright (AUS) 68-67-70-71

277 - Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 69-70-70-68, Mark Brown (NZL) 65-73-70-69, Gavin Flint (AUS) 72-68-66-71

278 - David Gleeson (AUS) 72-64-72-70, Ashley Hall (AUS) 69-71-68-70

279 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70-72-70-67, Sung Mao-chang (TPE) 67-72-71-69, S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 70-68-72-69, Han Lee (USA) 69-72-68-70

280 - Corey Harris (USA) 68-69-75-68, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 69-69-74-68, Jason Knutzon (USA) 72-68-69-71, Martin Rominger (SUI) 68-70-70-72, Taichiro Kiyota (JPN) 68-71-69-72

September 2, 2007

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