D A POINTS WINS HOUSTON OPEN FROM STENSON AND HORSCHEL

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
HUMBLE, Texas -- D A Points can always find a ray of light in the darkest clouds.

He arrived at the Shell Houston Open having failed to break 70 in his last nine rounds on the US PGA Tour. He had made only two cuts in nine tournaments this year, both times finishing at the bottom of the pack. 
All that changed Sunday, even after a final round most appropriately delayed by thunderstorms.
Points is pictured right after holing his winning putt (picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c).

RELATED CONTENT

Final leaderboard
Final results, points
TOUR Report notes
Column: Putter leads Points
Congratulate Points
Points interview
Round 4 video

Points returned from the long delay by making four pars, and the last one from just outside 13 feet gave him a one-shot victory in the Shell Houston Open.
It also provided another two-year exemption on the US PGA Tour, 500 FedExCup points and a start next year at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
And he's on his way back to Augusta National for the Masters.
"I never count myself out," said Points, now 19th in the FedExCup standings. "I never just chalk it up like, `Oh, this year is over with.' I've never felt like that. I was just grinding, just trying to wait and try to find that one thing that like, `Boom! There it is.' And there I go. Fortunately, it was this week and I capitalised on it."
He made it hard on himself in a final round at Redstone where a dozen guys felt as if they had a chance to win on the back nine. Only in the final hour did Points seize control, and then he had to work hard not to lose the lead.
A 5-iron to the 17th came up 40 yards short of his target, and he chipped up to tap-in range to take a one-shot lead to the tough 18th. He hit a hybrid from 231 yards that nearly went into the bunker, leaving another long chip. This one came up shorter than he wanted, but the putt was true.
"I've been having a really tough year," Points said. "To have a putt to win, you want that starting out every week. I would have liked for it to have been closer."

Points closed with a 6-under 66, the final putt helping him avoid a play-off with Masters-bound Henrik Stenson and Billy Horschel.
Stenson birdied his last two holes for a 66 before the storms rolled across Houston, and while he came up one shot short, he moved up to No. 42 in the world ranking to earn an invitation to the Masters. Horschel was on the 18th tee when play was halted, and then had to wait some more for his turn to hit on the tough driving hole. He split the middle, found the green and two-putted for par to join Stenson in the clubhouse lead.
They waited around for a play-off that wasn't necessary when Points saved par on his last two holes.
Points, who finished at 16-under 272, picked up his second PGA TOUR victory, and this time he had to supply his own comic relief. He won two years ago with actor Bill Murray as his partner in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. When the tension mounted, Points flashed his caddie an exaggerated smile to help keep it all in perspective.
It worked, and now they can smile all the way to Augusta.
"I never not think it's on my radar," Points said of his last-minute entry to the Masters. "I want to win. I want to win more than once. I want to have the opportunity to win majors, and win majors. I want to play in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cup. These are things I want to do, and I know I'm capable of doing."
Twenty players were separated by four shots going into the final round, and it stayed that way for a while, with a dozen players poised to make a run and seize control as the storm clouds gathered.Phil Mickelson opened his final round with four straight birdies, and he was still in the picture until a three-putt double bogey on the 14th hole. He had a 68, and wound up six shots behind. Dustin Johnson had the lead at one point until he missed a short birdie putt on the 11th, and then hit his 5-wood into the water on the reachable par-4 12th hole, leading to bogey. He wound up with a 65 and finished two shots behind.
Ben Crane, who played alongside Points, had birdie chances on the last two holes that would have dropped if he had hit them hard enough. Crane had a 68 and tied for fourth with Johnson.
Kevin Chappell was briefly tied for the lead. He had a 68 and tied for sixth, along with Brian Davis (67) and Stewart Cink (70).
Cink started the final round tied for the lead. Cink returned from the delay by making a 5-foot par putt, an 18-foot birdie putt and a 10-foot par save on the 17th to get within two shots of the lead. He needed Points to make bogey on the last hole to have any chance, and was on the tee when he heard the cheer for a par. Cink put it into the bunker off the tee and near the green and made his only bogey of the day.
Jason Kokrak needed a birdie on the 18th to have any chance at a playoff and yanked his tee shot into the water. Steve Wheatcroft, the Monday qualifier who started Sunday one shot out of the lead, had a 74 to tie for 22nd.
Rory McIlroy was long gone, on his way north to San Antonio, when all this was going on. The world's No. 2 player closed out his week at the Shell Houston Open by making a 25-foot birdie putt for a 70 and a tie for 45th. McIlroy will play the Valero Texas Open next week before heading to the Masters.
The consolation prize went to Stenson, who figured he would need to finish in the top 10 to crack the top 50 in the world in the final week that Augusta National uses the world ranking to fill out the field. He did even better, nearly winning the tournament.
"I said to my caddie walking up 18, `No matter what, we're playing for a green jacket in a couple of weeks,'" Stenson said. "That will be nice."
It wasn't so nice for Charles Howell III, who rallied with a 66 but still wound up four shots away from where he needed to finish to get into the top 50. Howell, who grew up in Augusta, will miss the Masters for the fourth time in the last five years.
"I'm not going down the road of disappointment," he said. "I played good. I would love to be in the golf tournament. So would 300 million other golfers. I played well this year and I'm going to watch the tournament on TV. It's just horrible to watch on TV, to be honest."

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Players from USA unless stated
272 D A Points 64 71  71 66
273 Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 69 70 68 66, Billy Horschel 68 72 67 66
274 Dustin Johnson 69 70 70 65, Ben Crane 69 70 67 68
275 Brian Davis (England) 67 70 71 67, Kevin Chappell 70 70 67 68
276 Stewart Cink 71 66 68 70, Jason Kokrak 66 69 71 70

SELECTED TOTALS
277 Lee Westwood (England) 68 72 6 7 70, Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 70 72 65 70 (T10).
278 Phil Mickelson 72 71 67 68 (T16)
280 Greg Owen (England) 68 73 68 71 (T22).
282 Ross Fisher (England) 73 69 72 68 (T31)
284 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 73 70 71 70 (T45)
286 David Lynn (England) 72 70 72 72 (T56).      


TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND CHECK
THE SCORECARDS

CLICK HERE

 About the winner: D.A. Points

• D.A. Points' win comes in his 189th US PGA Tour start at the age of 36 years, 3 months and 30 days.

• He earns 500 FedExCup points to move to No. 19 in the FedExCup standings.

• Extends exempt status on the US PGA Tour through 2015.

• Earns a return trip to this year’s Masters Tournament. In only other appearance at Augusta National, missed the cut in 2011.

• Becomes sixth player in his 30s to win this season (8 wins), compared to two in their 20s and two in 40s.

• Win is 16th straight by an American on TOUR, dating to Tommy Gainey’s win at 2012 McGladrey Classic.

• Win extends the streak of American winners since the start of the 2013 season to 14 in a row, surpassing the run of 13 straight winners from the United States in 1989.

• After opening with 8-under 64, becomes the fourth first-round leader to go on to win this season, joining Dustin Johnson/Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Phil Mickelson/Waste Management Phoenix Open, Tiger Woods/WGC-Cadillac Championship.

• Victory comes in his sixth start at the Shell Houston Open (T70-2006, T14-2009, T62-2010, T60-2011, MC-2012, 1st-2013).

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

The victorious Clackmannan County team at King James VI Golf Club  with their new team sweaters.
Front row  (left to right)   Steven Horne, Darren Hulston (capt), Scott Borrowman. Jamie Aitken.
Back Row (L-R)   John McLaren, Steve McIvor, Allan Watson John Maxwell.

GOLFING KINGS ON THE ISLAND

 In the first of the three matches to decide the 2013 Provan Salver Trophy, the Wee County took on the Big County on their home ground, and over the King James VI course in Perth, the Clackmannanshire team scored an emphatic victory by six matches to two.  Newly appointed Team Captain Darren Hulston (Dollar) was delighted with his first match in charge.

“In the cold conditions there were several strong sub-par performances which give us great hopes for future matches, particularly the Scottish Area Team Championship to be held at Crail in May.”  

Best performances came from John McLaren, Scott Borrowman and Steven Horne who outplayed their opponents.

MATCH RESULTS (Clackmannan names first)

Scott Borrowman (Dollar) bt Scott Michie (Kinross) 7 and 6.

John McLaren (Alloa) bt Greig Carruthers (Pitlochry 8 and 7.

Allan Watson (Braehead) lost to David Simpson (Crieff) 1 hole

Steve McIvor (Alva) bt Jason Thomson (Kinross) 1 hole

John Maxwell (Tulliallan) lost to Willie Hutton (Blair Atholl) 4 and 3.

Steven Horne (Tulliallan) bt Thomas White (Kinross) 7 and 5.

Jamie Aitken (Alloa) bt Scott Thomson (Strathmore) 5 and 3.

Darren Hulston (Dollar) bt Mark Cameron (Alyth) 4 and 3.

 

  MATCH RESULT'

CLACKMANNAN 6,  PERTH AND KINROSS 2

 OTHER RESULT:
 ANGUS 4, FIFE 4 (played at Panmure)
Angus names first
R Bell lost to C Christie 1 hole.
W Bremner lost to G Sharpe 7 and 6.
C Donaldson bt C Martin 2 and 1.
C Hutcheon halved with A Hain.
R Perry bt A Anderson 5 and 4.
S Smith bt K Blyth 7 and 6.
M Lindsay halved with S Brownlie.
S Graham lost to S S Cation 2 and 1.  
 

The next match in the Provan Salver is at Alloa this weekend against Angus County, and the following team has been selected:

Darren Hulston (Capt), Jamie Aitken, Ross Benvie, Steven Horne, John Maxwell, John McLaren, Steve McIvor.

 CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2013.

 The opening 72 hole event of the 2013 Scottish Golfing season takes place at Leven Links this coming weekend with  Clackmannan County Champion Allan Watson   (Braehead) (8.24 tee time) and Scottish International Scott Borrowman (Dollar) (10.16 tee time) competing in a field of 48 top Scottish golfers.

TOP TEN AGAIN FOR LAWRENCE

 Following on from his recent good performance, Lawrence Allan from Alva scored well again at Little Rock in America with rounds of 78, 74, 78 putting him in a tie for 10th position in the field of 66, and helping his Southeastern Universtiy lift the team title by 5 shots.

His rounds may appear a bit high but the competition was played over Chenal Golf course measuring some 7312 yards.

 MIDLAND ALLIANCE GOLF

It was a very good day for Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart at Monifieth in the latest Midland Alliance event.  Bob finished runner up in the scratch section with a one over par 72, runner up in the handicap section with a net 71, and to cap it all took the team prize with a net 63 partnered by R Farquhar (Carnoustie) and S Mitchell  ( Duke's). 

Bob has been very consistent throughout the winter season, and lies third in the Midland Alliance Order of Merit.  Hopefully his form will continue into the Scottish Senior Golfing season.

                                      

            

MARCEL SIEM LEADS FROM START TO FINISH IN MOROCCO

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Marcel Siem romped to a three shot victory at the Trophée Hassan II but was left with an anxious wait to see if he would be making his Masters Tournament debut in a fortnight’s time.
The 32 year old German overcame a slow start and the threat of Finland’s Mikko Ilonen to register a third European Tour victory.
Siem needs to move into the top 50 on The Official World Golf Ranking tonight to receive an invite to Augusta National but will have to wait and see how the likes of Henrik Stenson, Russell Henley and Charles Howell III fair at the Shell Houston Open.
“That will be unbelievable,” Siem said when asked what it would mean to grab a ticket to Georgia.
“It’s been my dream since I was a kid so if that comes true it will be unbelievable. It would be wonderful to play the Masters.
“I just want to be on that ground. I’m not going to cry but it would be very emotional.”
The Open de France winner started the day four clear but bogeyed the first and was caught when Ilonen had a hat-trick of gains from the second.
Siem responded with birdies at the fifth and seventh, the latter courtesy of a brilliant approach to three feet, but Ilonen – who recorded both his European Tour victories back in 2007 – matched the latter to remain within touching distance.
The gap was back to two when Ilonen bogeyed the long tenth - Siem had his own problems around the green there but escaped with a par.
The tournament turned decisively in the German’s favour when he birdied the 11th from ten feet as Ilonen found sand from the tee at the short 12th, could only splash out into rough, chipped four feet past and missed the return putt.
Siem had a two-putt birdie at 15 and could even afford a couple of errant shots over the closing holes as he signed for a two under par 70 and 17 under par total.
Ilonen, who overcame a bout of food poisoning overnight, recovered from his mid-round slump with a pair of closing birdies to tie with England’s 2011 winner David Horsey in second on 14 under.
“I’m super happy; really proud that I stayed that calm,” added Siem, who took some advice from the King of German golf prior to the final round. “There was a lot of pressure – Mikko had a great start again – so I’m really happy that I scrambled well and came back nicely.
“I’ve never been in that situation so I spoke to Bernhard [Langer] last night to see if he could give me some advice on how to cope with being four shots in the lead, so thanks Bernhard!”

 FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Prize money in Euros
271 Marcel Siem (Ger) 64 68 69 70 (250,000).
274 David Horsey (Ger) 68 67 70 69. Mikko Ilonen (Finland) 69 66 70 69 (130,280 each).
276 Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) 72 64 69 71 (75,000).
279 Matthew Baldwin (Eng) 72 70 68 69, Alvaro Velasco (Spain) 67 74 69 69, Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) 72 66 69 72 (53,700 each).
281 David Howell (Eng) 71 70 72 69 (37,500).
282 Craig Lee (Scotland) 69 69 70 74, Julien Quesne (France) 71 72 71 68 (31,800 each).
283 David Drysdale (Scotland) 74 72 67 70, Emiliano Grillo (Argentina) 74 70 69 70, Chris Paisley (England) 73 67 75 68, Steve Webster (England) 74 72 69 68 (25,125 each).
284 Oliver Fisher (England) 73 69 70 72. Andreas Harto (Denmark) 71 67 73 73, Gary Lockerbie (England) 69 76 79 70, Joost Lutten (Netherlands) 70 69 72 73, Andrew Marshall (England) 73 71 72 68, Francesco Molinari (Italy) 73 71 70 70, Richie Ramsay (Scotland) 74 69 69 72, Simon Wakefield (England) 68 72 71 73, Paul Waring (England) 71 72 71 70 (18,917 each).
285 Jorge Campillo (Spain) 72 74 72 67, Lorenzo Gagli (Italy) 74 73 69 69, Richard Green (Australia) 75 71 68 71, Lee Slattery (England) 74 71 72 68 (15,375 each).
286 Chris Lloyd (England) 72  68 75 71, Mikael Lundberg (Sweden) . 73 69 68 76, Garth Mulroy (South Africa) 73 67 74 72, Graeme Storm (England) 68 77 73 68 (13,575 each).
287 Daniel Brooks (England) 72 70 75 70, Alejandro Canizares (Spain) 73 73 72 69, Michael Hoey (Northern Ireland) 74 69 74 70 (12,000 each).
288 J B Hansen (Denmark) 73 73 70 72, Alexander Levy (France) 73 74 70 71, Matthew Southgate 72 75 72 69 (10,950 each).
289 Robert Coles (England) 76 70 70 73, Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 75 68 70 76, Ignacio Garrido (Spain) 77 69 70 73, Keith Horne (South Africa) 77 69 72 71, John Parry (England) 73 73 70 73, Anthony Snobeck (France) 75 67 72 75 (9,600 each).
290 James Elson (England) 77 69 70 74, Mikko Korhonen (Finland) 76 71 73 70, Bernd Ritthammer (Germany) 73 73 72 72, Joel Sjoholm (Sweden) 78 69 72 71, Justin Walters (South Africa) 71 71 79 69 (7,950).
291 Scott Arnold (Australia) 71 71 70 79, Richard McEvoy (England) 71 70 75 75. Alessandro Tadini (Italoy) 72 74 77 68 (6,750 each).
292 Matteo Delpodio (Italy) 74 70 78 70, Gregory Havret (France) 70 71 77 74, Scott Henry (Scotland) 72 71 80 69, Espen Kofstad (Norway) 74 73 70 75, Jose Manuel Lara (Spain) 72 71 74 75. Martin Wiegele (Austria) 75 69 73 75 (5,400 each).
293 Stephen Dodo (Wales) 74 70 77 72, Morten Orum Madsen (Denmark) 78 69 76 70, Daniel Popovic (Australia) 72 72 71 78 (4,350 each).
294 Fredrik Andersson Hed (Sweden) 75 72 73 74, Peter Erofejeff (Finland) 76 69 72 77 (3,975 each).
295 Maarten Lafeber (Netherlands) 77 67 74 77 (3,750).
298 Carlos Del Moral (Spain) 78 69 74 78, Santiago Luna (Spain) 72 73 76 77, Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 81 66 73 78 (3,450 each) 

SOUTH KOREAN CHOI INS JAKARTA INDONESIA CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE
JAKARTA, Indonesia - South Korean Choi Ho-sung survived a dramatic three-hour storm delay on the final hole and drained an eight-foot birdie putt for a fourth-round 67 and a two-stroke victory in the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship today.

Choi finished the U.S. $1 million tournament at  tournament at 19 under, holding off a late challenge by Filipino Juvic Pagunsan (66), overnight leader Kaname Yokoo (70) of Japan and South Korean youngster Song Young-han (68). 

"I can't believe it," a beaming Choi said after sinking his final putt and as lightning jagged through the gloom around the  Arnold Palmer-designed Emeralda Golf Club course.

"I thought we would might not be able to finish. I really didn't want to have to do it all over again tomorrow."

This tournament, and the season-opening Thailand Open a fortnight ago, were co-sanctioned by both OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, bringing together one of the most powerful Asia-Pacific fields ever assembled. Earnings count towards both money lists, and a win at either gives the champion status on both tours.

Choi pulled out of the Thailand event after the first round, unable to cope with the stifling heat and drenching humidity, but he coped much better under similar circumstances in Jakarta.

"I was better prepared," he said. "This time I had enough towels and ice, and I used an umbrella around the course."

A shot behind the lead overnight and playing in the final group, Choi made his intentions clear from the start with a slick eagle on the first that took him to the top of the leaderboard.

But an hour ahead Pagunsan was making his charge for the title, turning at four under and then finishing birdie-birdie to give the 40-year-old Choi something to think about.

"I didn't expect  to be making such a strong challenge, but as I finished I saw Choi had dropped a shot on 15 and suddenly I was in the lead," said Pagunsan.

A poor read by Choi led to that bogey, but he steadied the ship with a clutch par putt on 16, and then a birdie on 17 before the storm broke.

When play finally resumed, Choi split the fairway with his final drive and then stiffed his approach for what became a routine birdie and the winning $180,000 cheque.

Song, 22, runner up at OneAsia Q-School last year, birdied the last to grab a share of second and his best finish in a professional tournament. Yokoo also birdied the last to finish joint runner-up.

Augusta-bound Thai Thaworn Wiratchant (68), the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, guaranteed himself a good payday with a share of seventh place at 15 under, along with former OneAsia money list winners Scott Strange (71) of Australia and China's Liang Wenchong (69). 

  FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 7,198

269 CHOI Ho-sung (SKOR) 67-70-65-67.

271 Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 69-71-65-66, SONG Young-han (SKOR) 65-66-72-68, Kaname YOKOO (JPN) 68-66-67-70.

272 Hideto TANIHARA (JPN) 66-68-70-68, Toshinori MUTO (JPN) 67-65-70-70.

273 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 71-68-66-68, LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 66-69-69-69, Scott STRANGE (AUS) 68-67-67-71, Yuta IKEDA (JPN) 67-68-67-71.

274 Simon DYSON (ENG) 69-70-68-67, Azuma YANO (JPN) 67-69-67-71, Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-63-70-72, LEE Kyoung-hoon (SKOR) 65-71-66-72.

275 Shingo KATAYAMA (JPN) 65-69-71-70, WU Ashun (CHN) 70-68-67-70.

276 KIM Kyung-tae (SKOR) 68-70-69-69.

277 LEE Tae-hee (SKOR) 69-70-70-68, Matthew GRIFFIN (AUS) 69-70-69-69, Koichiro KAWANO (JPN) 69-71-69-68, Mark BROWN (NZL) 69-72-68-68, PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 67-69-73-68, Richard T LEE (CAN) 65-71-70-71, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 70-70-65-72, Yoshinori FUJIMOTO (JPN) 66-66-71-74.

278 KIM Dae-sub (KOR) 71-69-68-70, Jason NORRIS (AUS) 70-66-71-71, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 70-71-68-69, Yosuke TSUKADA (JPN) 69-70-71-68, KIM Do-hoon 753 (KOR) 73-68-70-67, David McKENZIE (AUS) 69-72-70-67.

279 Kazuhiro YAMASHITA (JPN) 65-72-71-71, Kurt BARNES (AUS) 71-67-71-70, Kunihiro KAMII (JPN) 69-71-69-70, LEE Han (USA) 70-68-69-72, Stephen DARTNALL (AUS) 69-72-65-73, Stephen LEANEY (AUS) 70-71-70-68, Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN) 68-66-69-76.

280 Ted OH (KOR) 69-68-71-72, Katsumasa MIYAMOTO (JPN) 65-70-72-73, PARK Jun-won (KOR) 69-70-71-70, Jay CHOI (USA) 69-68-73-70, JOO Heung-chol (KOR) 72-67-67-74, Andik MAULUDIN (INA) 70-71-69-70, S K HO (KOR) 70-71-70-69, Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 68-73-64-75, Masamichi UEHIRA (JPN) 69-72-71-68.

281 Nick CULLEN (AUS) 68-70-70-73, David OH (USA) 69-70-69-73, HUR In-hoi (KOR) 68-70-72-71, Yosuke ASAJI (JPN) 71-68-67-75, LI Hao-tong (CHN) 71-70-69-71, Tadahiro TAKAYAMA (JPN) 67-73-73-68, JANG Dong-kyu (SKOR) 68-73-72-68.

282 Andre STOLZ (AUS) 67-67-74-74, Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 70-70-70-72, RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 76-65-70-71, LEE Jung-hwan (KOR) 69-71-73-69.

283 Michael HENDRY (NZL) 69-70-69-75, LI Xin-yang (CHN) 71-67-69-76, YANG Ji-ho (KOR) 70-69-68-76.

284 KIM Hyung-sung (KOR) 70-67-72-75, PARK Eun-shin (KOR) 68-71-77-68.

285 Lucas LEE (BRA) 70-69-73-73.

287 Paul SHEEHAN (AUS) 71-69-74-73, Matthew MILLAR (AUS) 67-74-74-72, Kim FELTON (AUS) 72-69-76-70.

289 Akinori TANI (JPN) 66-73-76-74.

298 Naomi OHTA (JPN) 69-72-75-82.

 

AUSSIE HEND CHARGES THROUGH TO WIN IN THAILAND

     SCOTT HEND  ... eight-under-par final round

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR
Chiangmai, Thailand: Australia’s Scott Hend charged from six shots back to win the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic by three strokes after a stunning eight-under-par 64 in the final round today.

Big-hitting Hend earned his third Asian Tour title in front of large crowds at the Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai, taking home the winner’s cheque of US$135,000 with his four-day total of 20-under-par 268.

South African newcomer Bryce Easton, playing in his first Asian Tour event, also shot a 64 to take second place while a faltering Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, who led by five overnight, settled for third on 272 after a day to forget when he soared to a 74 in the US$750,000 full-field Asian Tour tournament.

The growing emergence of China’s Hu Mu continued as he took fourth place following a 68 as he posted his first top-five finish on the region’s premier Tour which is celebrating its milestone 10^th season in 2013.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who needed a victory to have a chance of qualifying for the Masters Tournament in a fortnight, settled tied 10^th position after a 72 while South Africa’s  Ernie Els, using the belly putter after three days with the short stick, finished tied 14^th in the Chiangmai Golf Classic which was offering the highest world ranking points in Asia this week.

“To be honest, I didn’t think I had a chance to win,” said the 40-year-old Hend. “I played with Prayad the first two rounds and he was hitting the ball great and putting great. And obviously he played great yesterday again and I thought he would continue with the way he was playing.

“I was just looking for a solid top-five finish. Obviously it all fell together and I played quite well. Unfortunately for the other guys, they didn’t quite keep the pace going which was good for me.”

Despite a bogey on three, Hend sparked his round at the next hole with a 30-foot eagle conversion, which led to four more birdies over his next five holes. “From there, I just played pretty solid golf and holed the putts that I missed in the first three days. That was the difference. This win is fantastic. To shoot 20 under helps you believe in yourself that you’ve got the game.”

His two previous wins on the Asian Tour also were come-from-behind victories. He stormed from five back to win the 2008 Indonesian Presidents Invitational and was four behind when he won the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic last season.

“I never had the chance to lead from the front. I would love to lead into the last round by three and see if I can hold the guys off. But you’ll take anything you can get. To shoot eight under on the Sunday, I’m pretty proud of it,” said Hend, who credited his caddie and former Tour regular Tony Carolan for his triumph.

The 25-year-old Easton, who missed his Asian Tour card by one shot at Qualifying School in January, was nine under for the round through 14 holes but double bogeyed the par three 15^th when his tee shot found the lake. He missed a birdie chance at the closing par five 18^th and was eventually passed by a fast-chaging Hend.

“I played great. The goal was to sneak into the top-five to get into next week (Panasonic Open India). I got going nicely and got into a position to win. I hit a few shots close early on and made a couple of putts and kept building on that. I just kept heading in the right direction but made some mistakes in the end,” said Easton, whose runner-up cheque of US$82,500 is expected to be enough for him to get a full Tour card for 2014.

After three days of imperious golf, Prayad lamented a poor start where bogeyed the third and then found water en route to a double bogey on the par five seventh. A missed putt for from close range on nine for an outward 39 left him with an uphill task.

“My irons were no good. The second shots were always reaching the fringe on almost every hole. My feeling was okay when I started the final round. I’m not angry now although I had a chance to win,”  said the 47-year-old veteran star.
James Byrne came home in 32 - easily his best of the four days, with birdies at five of his last seven holes, to finish T58 on two-under-par 286 (73-69-72-72).

 

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 7,471

268 Scott HEND (AUS) 68-69-67-64.

271 Bryce EASTON (RSA) 68-67-72-64.

272 Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 65-67-66-74.

273 HU Mu (CHN) 66-69-70-68.

274 Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 71-69-70-64, BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 69-69-68-68, SIDDIKUR  (BAN) 69-67-69-69, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 71-67-66-70, Matthew STIEGER (AUS) 68-67-68-71.

275 MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 70-67-71-67, Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA) 68-70-68-69, Digvijay SINGH (IND) 67-67-70-71, Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 69-65-69-72.

276 KIM Gi-whan (KOR) 71-70-69-66, Chris RODGERS (ENG) 72-66-71-67, Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 71-69-68-68, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 70-68-69-69, Jaakko MAKITALO (FIN) 72-66-69-69, Ernie ELS (RSA) 69-71-66-70.

277 Tetsuji HIRATSUKA (JPN) 70-68-71-68, Mithun PERERA (SRI) 70-66-71-70, Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 70-70-67-70, Jason KNUTZON (USA) 67-69-70-71, Y. E. YANG (KOR) 69-68-67-73, Anton HAIG (RSA) 72-66-66-73.

SELECTED TOTAL
286 James Byrne (Scotland) 73 69 72 72 (T58)