Wirachant wins by five shots

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant romped to a sensational five-stroke victory in the US$1 million Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open after shooting a final round of seven-under-par 63 on Sunday.

In an amazing final day at the par-70 Cengkareng Golf Club which produced some glorious golf, the Thai with the unorthodox swing triumphed in style with a four-day score of 25-under-par 255, the lowest 72-hole total on both the Asian Tour and European Tour.

The winning mark will not be considered official due to the preferred lie ruling in operation but Thaworn's success, worth US$166,660, will go down in the history books along with several other wonderful achievements. It was his fifth Asian Tour title and first on the European Tour.

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, who got to within one stroke of Thaworn on the 11th hole, settled for his career fourth second-place finish after a closing 65 for a 260 total while Australian Adam Fraser sank a magical hole-in-one en route to a 62 for third place, a further stroke back.

Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, languishing in tied 30th place and 10 off the pace playing the last round, finally came alive in Jakarta, setting a new birdie record with nine-in-a-row for a brilliant 60 to share fourth place with Filipino veteran Frankie Minoza, who wrapped up with a 66.

It was Thaworn though who finished a marathon day on top of the heap. He returned early in the morning, playing his remaining nine holes in three-under to complete his third round in 66 and open up a three shot lead. After a quick break, he went out and finished the job in style, shooting eight more birdies against a bogey for his third 63 of the week.

"Winning a co-sanctioned event has been on my mind. I've been trying for a while and my dream has now become a reality," said Thaworn, who joins Thongchai Jaidee as the only Thai winners on the European Tour.

"The weather disruptions earlier this week made it hard for us but I just tried to ignore it. I concentrated on every shot and if I had missed a shot, I didn't let it bother me. I had a good feeling this week and felt I could take this tournament."

The 36-year-old Thaworn entered the last round with a three shot lead but kept his nose ahead with an outward 33. When the birdies dried out for Jacquelin on the back nine, Thaworn coasted home, finishing off in style on 18 with an 15-foot birdie.

"I saw the leaderboard on 13 and knew that Raphael was three back. I then knocked in a 20-footer for birdie and that gave me a good cushion. I knew it would be safe," said the Thai, who plans to use his winnings to build a house.

Jacquelin paid tribute to the winner, whom he had played with in the opening two rounds. "20 under is always a good week. But I would have preferred to win but the guy in front is playing very well. I played with Thaworn in the first two days and he is playing very well. He made many putts and he was looking very confident on the short game and that's why he's on top of the leaderboard," said Jacquelin.

Fraser, looking to join his brother Marcus as a winner in Europe, achieved his best result yet on Tour thanks to a glorious finish. He turned in five under and then aced the 17th with an eight iron before finishing with a birdie on 18 which gave him sole third place.

"That was special. Slam dunked the 17th with an eight iron. Just hit it perfectly," said Fraser, who won a Peugeot 307 car on offer. "I'm going to take a lot from this. It's been good. The Asian Tour has been good to me and I'll keep looking for my first win."

Scotsman Montgomerie, needing a win to boost his Masters hopes, posted a new birdie record on both the Asian Tour and European Tour with nine in a row and agonisingly missed a birdie at his last hole, the ninth for a 59, which would have been a first for both Tours. Starting the day from the 10th, his run began on the 17th hole through the seventh hole.

"I had what's known as a golden opportunity to do a 59 and we know no one has ever done that in Europe but 60 is my lowest score. I'm trying my hardest here to get back to where I feel I should be. I missed so many putts in the first three days," said Montgomerie.

The 54th-ranked Montgomerie will have to wait for the conclusion of The Players Championship, regarded as the fifth Major, in Florida to see if he had made up ground to break the top-50, which will give him a spot at Augusta National. "If it's (tied fourth) good enough to get into the top-50 for the Masters, then it's good enough. If it's 51st or 52nd, then we'll keep going," said Montgomerie.

Thailand's Thonchai, the reigning Asian Tour number one, closed with a 69 for tied 11th place alongside Paul McGinley of Ireland and Singapore's Mardan Mamat, who fell out of contention with a finishing 70.

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