Orient Masters
Orient Golf and Country Club
Xiamen, China
2nd - 5th April 1998

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Chawalit is pearl of the Orient

Xiamen, China, 5th April 1998 - Thailand's rising star Chawalit Plaphol birdied three of the last four holes to overcome his illustrious compatriot, and room-mate for the week, Boonchu Ruangkit in the Omega Tour's US$200,000 Orient Masters at Orient Golf and Country Club.

Chawalit fired a three-under-par 69 for a four round aggregate of 10-under-par 278 to win his first Omega Tour event by five strokes from Boonchu, who closed with a one-under-par 71.

Australian John Senden and American Shaun Micheel tied for third on four under after both returned rounds of two-under-par 70. The weight of Boonchu's experience was expected to be too much for Chawalit to cope with, but the young pretender triumphed with a confident display of aggressive golf. Two ahead with four to play, Chawalit buried Boonchu, a four-time winner on the Omega Tour, with an 18 foot birdie at the 15th.

Boonchu retaliated immediately with a birdie of his own on 16, but then could do nothing but watch as Chawalit, aged 24, birdied the final two holes for a comfortable win.

"When I holed-out on 15 I felt the pressure was off me for the first time," said Chawalit. "Boonchu was just behind all day and I knew he could make a move at any time. I think one thing that helped me deal with Boonchu was having played so many practise rounds with him in the past.

"When most people play alongside Boonchu they get scared because he has won so many times. He is a very intimidating opponent, but I felt comfortable playing with him today."

Chawalit's highest finish prior to his maiden victory in Xiamen was fourth equal in the 1997 Sabah Masters, a result he managed to match later that year in the Dubai Creek Open.

"He (Chawalit) did very well - there was not much I could do today, he was too good," said a gracious Boonchu. "He is hitting the ball a long way at the moment and he attacks everything. At the start of the round I sensed that he was a little nervous. He made a couple of mistakes and I thought I was going to be able to catch him.

"But he got better as the day went on. He still has a lot to learn but I think this will be just the first of many wins for him in the future."

Chawalit turned professional in 1996 shortly after hitting the headlines with a brilliant display as an amateur in the European Tour's Johnnie Walker Classic in Singapore, where he placed joint 22nd.

Though the young Thai player's form has been patchy over the last couple of season, he has at last lived up to his great potential by claiming the US$32,300 winner's cheque. Taiwan's Lu Chien-soon, American Andrew Pitts and Korea's Kang Wook-soon tied for fifth place on two under par.

The Asian PGA's Omega Tour heads for Shanghai next and the US$400,000 Volvo China Open at Sunisland International Club from 16th - 19th April.