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Chawalit Plaphol fired a final round four-under-par 68 for a brilliant tournament total of 22-under-par 266 – one shot away from matching the Mercedes-Benz Tour record.

Juvic Pagunsan from the Philippines finished second after shooting a 67. He claimed the previous Tour event, the Mercedes-Benz Masters Thailand, by seven shots. His compatriots Tony Lascuna (pictured below, left) and Ferdie Aunzo (right) finished a stroke further back in joint third place after carding rounds of 68 and 72 respectively.

Chawalit shot rounds of 65, 64, 69 and 68 plus amassed 27 birdies for a wire-to-wire victory.

“This is something for my confidence and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve been struggling with my driver lately and this is quite important for me since I have not played well for the last couple of years,” said Chawalit, who won US$8,126.

Chawalit, has won twice on the Asian Tour and once in Japan during an outstanding career, but the past 18 months have seen an ugly trail of missed cuts. His last victory was the 2006 Bangkok Airways Open. He won the ANA Open in Japan in 2004 and the 1998 Orient Masters. The Thai golfer turned to playing on the Mercedes-Benz Tour to help rediscover his game.

The 35 year old started the day with a five shot lead and pulled further away with three birdies in his first six holes. He made five birdies and one bogey in total. Pagunsan took over at the top of the Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit from countryman Jay Bayron, who finished equal 14th. He leads on US$19,690 after five events, while Bayron has earned US$15,475.

The next event on the 10-leg Mercedes-Benz Tour is the US$50,000 E-san Open in Thailand at Singha Park Golf Club. The tournament will be played from July 15 to 18.

Leading final round scores:

(Par 72)

266 - Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 65 64 69 68

274 - Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 68 72 67 67

275 - Ferdie Aunzo (PHI) 71 71 65 68, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 66 68 69 72

276 - Mars Pucay (PHI) 69 71 69 67, Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 66 70 71 69

277 - Omar Dungca (PHI 73 66 72 66,  Artemio Murakami (PHI) 70 66 72 69, Ramil Bisera (PHI) 70 69 69 69

278 - Elmer Saban (PHI 73 70 69 66

279 - Elmer Salvador (PHI) 69 74 70 66, Nicholas Fung Mas 70 70 70 69, Ebarra Quiachon (PHI) 69 71 66 73

280 - Felix Casas (PHI) 73 69 71 67, Jerson Balasabas (Am) (PHI) 71 69 67 73, Jay Bayron (PHI) 69 67 69 75

281 - Richard Abaring (PHI) 70 69 73 69,  Namchok Tantipokakul (THA) 68 72 72 69, Ronnachai Jamnong (THA) 72 68 71 70, Guido Van Der Valk (NED) 72 72 67 70

282 - Michael Bibat (PHI) 72 69 72 69

283 - Wisut Artjanawat (THA 72 72 68 71, Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 70 72 70 71
 

From Golf Digest Singapore August 2010 issue