MERCEDES-BENZ MASTERS SINGAPORE RELATED STORIES Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore home page Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore Preview Round 1: Lam finds his A-game to take command Round 2: Steady Mardan moves clear at the top Round 3: Mardan extends his lead to two Round 4: Mardan's maiden Mercedes title by three Final Scores & Prize Money MORE ASIAN GOLF NEWS Old Guard Show Form In Philippines Mike Kerr New Asian Tour CEO Nirat Eyes Title In Philippines 2012 Performance Stats Hiratsuka Hopes To Defend In Myanmar Sponsors Show Support For Philippine Open Champions Head To Myanmar 84 Players Make Final Stage

 Mardan's maiden Mercedes title by three

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat fired his fourth successive sub-70 round to win the US$60,000 Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore today and record his maiden title on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.

The 41 year old shot a three-under-par 69 at Laguna National Golf and Country Club for a three stroke victory over Thailand’s Varut Chomchalam.

Varut returned a 66, while a stroke further back were defending champion Pariya Junhasavasdikul and Indonesia’s Rory Hie.

Mamat started the day with a two shot lead over Hie and despite dropping a shot on the first of the Masters Course he stormed away from the chasing pack with birdies on three, six, 11 and 14.

“It feels great to win. I was up against some really good young players like Rory, Varut and Pariya so this is an excellent result which has given me more confidence for the rest of the season,” said Mamat.

The Singaporean finished with a four round total of 14-under-par 274 and earned a cheque for US$9,750.

“Obviously I know the course very well so that is a big advantage and my ball striking was really good and so I am delighted about that,” added Mamat, who won the Singapore Masters on this course in 2006.

Varut carded the best round of the day thanks to a brilliant back nine of five-under-par 31.

“It was one of my best ever rounds but Mardan was just too far ahead,” said Varut.

It is the second time the young Thai golfer has finished second on the Mercedes-Benz Tour. He was runner up in Malaysia last year and is clearly a player to watch out for in the future.

Pariya closed with a 68, while Hie carded a 71.

First round leader Lam, who had a four shot lead in this event last year before being caught by Pariya, finished outright fifth after coming in with a 71.

The next event on the Mercedes-Benz Tour, which this year features nine events, is the Singha Pattaya Open from April 2 to 5.

Leading final round scores (par 72):

274 Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 69 69 67 69
277 Varut CHOMCHALAM (THA) 69 73 69 66
278 Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA) 71 70 69 68, Rory HIE (IDN) 70 72 65 71
279 LAM Chih Bing (SIN) 67 72 69 71
281 Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA) 71 71 71 68
283 Tanatchan PUAKTES (THA) 72 71 70 70, S SIVA CHANDRAN (MAS) 69 72 70 72, Rey PAGUNSAN (PHL) 68 73 69 73
285 R NACHIMUTHU (MAS) 74 71 70 70
286 KHOR Kheng Hwai (MAS) 72 73 71 70, Danny CHIA (MAS) 70 71 71 74. Pornpong PHATLUM (THA) 72 72 67 75
287 Andik MAULUDDIN (IDN) 71 72 72 72
288 Shaifubari MUDA (MAS) 75 71 71 71, P. GUNASEGARAN (MAS) 71 72 71 74
289 Apichai LEELAKAJONJIT (THA) 73 72 74 70, Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 73 70 75 71
290 KOH Dengshan (am) (SIN) 74 75 71 70, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 74 73 73 70, Namchok TANTIPOKAKUL (THA) 68 72 77 73, Jay BAYRON (PHL) 70 72 73 75, M SASIDARAN (MAS) 72 74 68 76

March 14, 2009