2009 SAIL Open - Round 4: Chapchai wins by eleven and breaks Tour scoring record

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat left his closest rivals in awe when he stormed home to victory with a record-breaking five-under-par 67 at the US$300,000 SAIL Open on Saturday.

The three-time Asian Tour winner, who had earlier set a 54-hole record of 27-under has gone on to re-establish a new 72-hole record on the Asian Tour by closing with a 32-under-par 256 total at the Classic Golf Resort.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who had an outside chance of upsetting the big-hitting Thai after starting the day eight shots behind Chapchai, had to settle for a share of second place when he posted a 70 to tie with Australia’s Richard Moir on 267 total.

Thailand’s Thammanoon Srirot, South Africa’s Keith Horne and New Zealand’s Mark Purser are tied for fourth on matching 269s while Australia’s Chris Gaunt and Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat ended their Indian campaign in tied-seventh on 270.

The spotlight once again shone brightly on the Thai standout who produced a bogey-free grandstand finish that was highlighted by five birdies.

“I was confident from the very start today. This win has given me a lot of confidence and I think I will now be able to take this momentum forward and probably win two to three more tournaments this year,” said Chapchai.

“My target was just to win and I did not think of the record so there was no pressure during the final birdie putt which helped me break the record,” added the newly-crowned Sail Open champion, whose score this week is believed to be one of the lowest scores ever recorded in the world for a four-round tournament.

When Chapchai started to make the turn in two-under and extending his lead over Bhullar to 10 shots, the question among the galleries was not about who was going to win the tournament but rather the number of shots Chapchai would win the tournament by.

“Chapchai just played some fabulous golf through the week. He’s been hitting it so well and doesn’t seem to feel any pressure,” said Bhullar.

Bhullar was hoping to create an upset after trailing Chapchai by eight shots at the start of the day.

However, his hopes of a maiden breakthrough on the Asian Tour faded after he could only manage four birdies against two bogeys on a day where Chapchai was simply at the top of his game.

Second-placed Moir was also left to applaud the heroics of Chapchai.

“It’s an outstanding effort. I don’t have any words, it’s unreal. His monstrous drives made it seem like he’s playing on a par-three course,” said Moir.

Leading fourth round scores (click here for full leaderboard and prize money):

256 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 62-62-65-67
267 - Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 67-64-66-70, Richard Moir (AUS) 66-67-66-68
269 - Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 67-68-67-67, Keith Horne (RSA) 68-67-64-70, Mark Purser (NZL) 65-63-72-69,
270 - Chris Gaunt (AUS) 70-66-67-67, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 65-64-72-69
271 - Rory Hie (INA) 67-70-67-67, Ross Bain (SCO) 67-68-66-70, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 65-67-67-72,
272 - George Coetzee (RSA) 68-68-70-66, Ashok Kumar (IND) 67-68-67-70
273 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-69-65-70
274 - Kodai Ichihara (JPN) 70-70-66-68,Jason Norris (AUS) 68-68-71-67, Amandeep Johl (IND) 68-69-69-68, Will Yanagisawa (USA) 68-66-69-71, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-65-68-73
275 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 72-68-66-69, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 65-67-73-70, Siddikur (BAN) 68-70-68-69, Vikrant Chopra IND) 72-68-68-67,Unho Park (AUS) 70-67-68-70,Shiv Kapur (IND) 68-66-69-72, Mars Pucay (PHI) 67-66-70-72

March 21, 2009

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