LIN SURVIVES STORM TO WIN MERCURIES TAIWAN MASTERS | Golf Digest Singapore

Asian Tour
Mercuries Taiwan Masters
LIN SURVIVES STORM TO WIN MERCURIES TAIWAN MASTERS

Play at the popular Asian Tour event was completed on time and it brought relief to many as it avoided facing the full wrath of Typhoon Parma, which was beginning to bring powerful winds and torrential rains across Chinese Taipei.

Lin signed off with an even-par 72 for a four-day total of eight-under-par 280 to win his fifth Asian Tour title much to the delight of the local galleries who braved the weather to watch their home favourite keep the title on home soil again. Compatriot Lu Wen-teh (left) took second place, three shots behind Lin after closing with a 73 for a 283 while overnight leader Udorn Duangdecha had to settle for third place on 284. Chinese Taipei’s Lin Keng-chi took fourth place on 285 while compatriot Chan Yih-shin is in fifth place after posting a final 74 for a 289 total.

Lin began his final round in second place by opening with a par. He bogeyed the second and fourth holes before embarking on his title charge with three birdies from holes six to eight to reach the turn in 37. Lin dropped another shot on the 11th but began to take a share of the lead with Udorn when he birdied the par-five 13th. The Chinese Taipei player then pulled one shot clear of the Thai when he sank another birdie on the 14th from 20 feet followed by another on the 15th to extend his lead to two shots. Lin dropped another shot on the 17th but maintained his composure to par his closing 18th to win his fifth Asian Tour title.

“I’m really happy with the way I played today. It was tough but I’m glad I survived. I kept believing in myself in this wet and windy conditions and I’m very pleased with how things have turned out this week,” said Lin who was greeted and hugged by his son at the 18th hole.

With gusty conditions making play tough, five-time Asian Tour winner Lu, turned to the familiarity of playing on his home course at the Tamsui course for his push towards a sixth victory on the Asian Tour. However despite a determined attempt to put up a strong defense for his title, Lu could only settle for a runner-up finish after mixing his card with five bogeys and four birdies.

“I’m pleased that I managed to put up a good fight for the title considering the conditions that we had to play under today. The swirling winds made things very difficult for everyone and I want to congratulate Wen-tang for his deserving win,” said Lu.

Udorn (right) meanwhile had to endure the heartbreak of missing out on his maiden win on the Asian Tour after holding on to the lead for three rounds at the popular Asian Tour event. The 38-year-old Thai was blown off course on a day where wind speed reached up to 25 miles per hour. Udorn signed off with three bogeys, two double bogeys and two birdies to end a disappointing round.

“I tried my best today but unfortunately it was not good enough to win the title, especially with the strong winds the last two days. The week’s over and I look forward to a better week ahead,” said Udorn.

Leading final round scores

280 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 71-66-71-72

283 - Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 71-71-68-73

284 - Udorn Duangdecha (THA) 65-69-73-77

285 - Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 70-73-69-73

289 - Chan Yih-shin (TPE) 67-69-79-74

290 - Lu Chien-soon (TPE) 69-73-73-75

291 - Wu Ashun (CHN) 72-72-76-71, Danny Chia (MAS) 71-72-74-74, Hsu Mong-nan (TPE) 72-70-73-76

292 - Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 73-74-74-71, Gavin Flint (AUS) 69-73-74-76, S. Siva Chandhran (MAS) 73-76-68-75, Sattaya Supupramai (THA) 75-70-69-78

293 - Jason King (AUS) 79-70-69-75, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 74-71-72-76

294 - Peter Cooke (AUS) 73-72-73-76, Hsieh Chin-sheng (TPE) 71-73-73-77

295 - Lin Chie-hsiang (TPE) 74-73-74-74, Ben Leong (MAS) 76-67-78-74, Lin Wen-hong (TPE) 73-71-79-72