CHINESE ACE BEATS MALAYSIAN SCOT STEEL
IN PLAY-OFF FOR SINGAPORE MASTERS

China’s top golfer Liang Wen-chong lifted his maiden title in Asia when he defeated Malaysia’s Iain Steel, who is of Scottish extraction, in a sudden-death play at the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Liang kept his cool and made a solid par putt on the play-off 18th hole against Steel’s double bogey after the Malaysian’s wayward drive found the water at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.
It was a timely win for Liang who had come close to contention this season at the Philippine Open before his triumph this week where we walked away with the top prize of US$183,330.
Liang and Steel ended the tournament on 11-under-par 277 after respective closing rounds of 73 and 71, one shot clear of third place Simon Dyson of England who finished with a 71 for a 278 total in the US$1.1 million event.
As a result of his triumph, Liang leaps to second place on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit with total earnings of US$273,747.
DONATING WINNINGS TO FOUNDATION
“I hope to donate all my winnings this week to a golf foundation in China. I haven’t decided where yet but I will donate all my prize winnings to the development of golf in China. I hope more of the young ones will pick up the sport,” said the champion.
On the par four 18th play off hole, Liang drove it on target and reached the green on two following a solid wedge shot. He missed a 12 foot birdie opportunity but sealed his win with a two feet par putt.
“I wanted to hit first of the tee to feel more relaxed. And when Iain shot it in the water, I knew I had a chance,” said Liang.
Steel, who enjoyed his best finish on the Asian Tour, found the water after a wayward drive in the play off hole and after reaching the green in his fourth shot, the Malaysian then two putted for a double bogey.
“I don’t want to think of any excuses. I just didn’t execute my shot well off the tee. I pictured it going out to the right and drawing back in to the fairway but I just came over the top and pulled it in the water,” said Steel who was born of Scottish parents at Sabah, Malaysia 35 years ago. He spent four years in the United States on a golf scholarship at Auburn University.
BOGEYS AND DOUBLE BOGEYS
It really was an extraordinary final afternoon where bogeys and double bogeys were the order of the day among the leaders instead of the usual birdies and eagles.
Liang and Steel were not immune to the chaos, Liang racking up a double bogey 7 at the 15th before recovering with a birdie 3 at the 16th hole while Steel saw his chance of a regulation holes victory disappear with his own double bogey 6 at the 16th.
Ireland’s Peter Lawrie’s outside hopes of a maiden title disappeared with a double bogey at the 16th. He finished on 74.
Andrew Coltart was the top Scot on 283 with a final round of 73 (36-37). He had no birdies and only one bogey, at the 13th in his final round.
Gary Orr had a 73 for 284 to share 30th place with Englishman Gary Lockerbie who plummeted out of a prominent overnight position with a final round of 80, which included a triple bogey at the short 12th and double bogeys at the second, third, seventh and 10th in halves of 41 and 39.
Barry Hume closed with a 75 for a share of 37th place on 285. Hume's final roller-coaster round had a triple bogey 7 at the second, a double bogey at the short seventh and a triple bogey 6 at the short 11th.
He also had an ALBATROSS and TWO eagle 2s. His albatross 2 came at the 12th, his eagle 2s at6 the fifth and eighth in halves of 38 and 37.
On a final day of comparatively high scoring, the worst tale came from Welshman Philip Price who finished last with an 85 for 295.
Philip had a 9 at the par-3 seventh in an outward 42; a 74 at the par-4 14th and a 6 at the par-4 12th.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
277 Liang Wen-chong (Chi) 64-72-68-73, Iain Steel (Mas) 70-65-71-71.
278 Simon Dyson (Eng) 71-69-67-71
279 Anthony Wall (Eng) 68-72-72-67, Jean Van De Velde (Fra) 68-71-71-69, David Lynn (Eng) 72-68-70-69, Nick Dougherty (Eng) 70-72-66-71
280 Craig Smith (Wal) 72-70-71-67, Scott Barr (Aus) 70-69-71-70, Lin Keng-chi (Tai) 73-68-69-70, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 69-72-67-72, Peter Lawrie (Ire) 66-70-70-74, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 65-68-72-75
281 Peter Senior (Aus) 70-70-73-68, Scott Strange (Aus) 69-73-70-69, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 69-71-71-70, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 69-70-70-72, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 71-70-69-71, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69-69-69-74
282 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 69-72-70-71, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 73-69-69-71, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 66-73-71-72, Robert Rock (Eng) 71-70-68-73.
283 Robert-Jan Derksen (Net) 73-69-72-69, Marcus Both (Aus) 72-69-72-70, Matthew Zions (Aus) 68-71-73-71, Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf) 71-69-71-72, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 68-73-70-72, Andrew Coltart (Sco) 69-69-72-73 (36-37).
Other totals:
284 Gary Lockerbie (Eng) 68 67 69 80, Graeme Storm (Eng) 66 74 72 74, Gary Orr (Sco) 71 71 69 73 (35-38) (jt 30th).
285 Barry Hume (Sco) 65 69 76 75 (38-37) (jt 37th).
286 Mark Foster (Eng) 76 65 71 74.
287 Mark Pilkington (Wal) 72 67 73 75, Stephen Dodd (Wal) 69 73 69 76, Steve Webster (Eng) 71 69 73 74, Ross Fisher (Eng) 74 66 73 74.
289 Richard Bland (Eng) 72 67 73 77, Ross Bain (Sco) 69 70 73 77 (39-38).
292 Simon Yates (Sco) 68 73 75 76, David Griffiths (Eng) 74 68 74 76.
293 David Carter (Eng) 74 66 72 81.
294 Shaun Webster (Eng) 69 73 79 73.
295 Philip Price (Wal) 69 71 70 85.