Thaworn Wins First Mercedes-Benz Tour Title In Melaka | Golf Digest Singapore

Mercedes-Benz Tour
Heritage Melaka Classic
Thaworn Wins First Mercedes-Benz Tour Title In Melaka

Melaka, Malaysia, June 12: Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant added another feather to his cap today when he won the US$50,000 Heritage Melaka Classic for his first victory on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.

The 42 year old carded a final round four-under-par 68 to beat Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing by one shot at Tiara Melaka Golf & Country Club.

Lam had started the day with a two stroke lead but had to settle for second after signing off with a 73.

Thaworn drew upon the experience of winning 10 titles on the Asian Tour to come from behind and beat Lam over the closing holes.

He began the day four adrift of Lam but held his nerve and birdied three out of the last five holes while Lam made a costly bogey on 17.

Thaworn, playing in the penultimate group, showed his class by making a birdie on the 17th and then holed a 25-foot par putt on the final hole.

The Bangkok-based Thaworn finished the tournament on 12-under-par 276 and earned a cheque for US$8,126.

“I am very happy. My caddie told me that Lam had bogeyed the 17th and that I had won the tournament,” said Thaworn, who was crowned Asian Tour number one in 2005.

A tired and dejected Lam (right) wished things had worked out differently for him.

“I just didn’t pull out the shots I wanted and didn’t make the crucial putts. I just couldn’t get anything going. Thaworn was playing in front of me and I knew he was making birdies and I lost focus,” said the 32 year old.

His countryman Mardan Mamat, who started the day seven strokes adrift from the leader, gave a good chase for the title posting seven birdies against two bogeys for a 67 and sole possession of third position.

“I just hung in there and played the best I could. I played well tee to green. Basically the whole week was a pretty steady one for me and I didn’t make any silly mistakes,” said Mamat, who won the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore.

Ben Leong and S. Sivachandran were the best Malaysian finishers on eight-under-par 280 in joint fourth position.

“My putting was really good today but my long game is frustrating me a little. It’s been troubling me for six months now. This year has not been a good year for me so far,” said Leong.

Leading final round scores (Par 72):

276 Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-69-70-68
277 Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 69-67-68-73
278 Mardan Mamat (SIN) 71-69-71-67
280 Ben Leong (MAS) 72-69-72-67, S. Sivachandran (MAS) 71-69-71-69
281 Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 68-66-72-75
282 Sattaya Supuramai (THA) 63-75-69-75
283 Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 70-77-67-69
284 Marimuthu Ramayah (MAS) 73-73-69-69, Shaaban Hussein (MAS) 69-75-70-70, Airil Rizman (MAS) 68 –71-72-73, Ferdie Aunzo (PHI) 69-71-70-74