Chile’s Costa seals emphatic wire-to-wire win

at MahaSamutr Masters

VIREN VARMA REPORTS

HUA HIN (Thailand) — Antonio Costa left the field marvelling at his sublime form this week when he completed an emphatic wire-to-wire victory in the MahaSamutr Masters in Thailand today.

Starting the day six shots in front of the field, the 27-year-old Chilean closed with a 68 to reach 15-under 201 for the tournament at Banyan Golf Club, three clear of Venezuela’s Wolmer Murillo, who made the biggest charge of the day, carding a fluent seven-under 65 to keep things interesting.

India’s Rayhan Thomas, an amateur, continued his impressive run this season, following up his second-place finish last week at Mountain Creek with another creditable third to round off the Thailand leg of the tour on a high.

It was Costa who walked off the Banyan golf course with a grin of pride lighting his face. “I am really excited to win my first event outside Chile. I have really worked hard to get this point,” said Costa

Costa started strongly, reeling off five birdies, including three in a row from the sixth to make the turn at five-under. A wrong selection of club resulted in a bogey on the 16th, but the job had already been done.

“I played perfect golf on the front nine and did not make much mistakes coming home. I think I played solid golf all week. My putting, in particular, was pretty good — and that made the difference.

“I played one shot at a time and stayed focused which kept me going,” he said. “It’s my first season on the tour, but I am loving it and feeling at home after making so many new friends,” said Costa who has become the second Latin American after Murillo to win a MENA Golf Tour event.

Murillo, six back at the start of the day, needed something special to track down Costa. He did produce the best round of the week, but, in the end, it was not good enough to stop a rampaging Costa. 

“Super happy with my performance,” enthused the 35-year-old Venezuelan, the winner of last week’s Mountain Creek Open

“I felt like I had a plenty of opportunities to score, but never mind. Shooting a 65 in the final round was special. I really want to thank John Wither, a PGA professional, for the all the hard work he has done with me. My confidence is on a high which is great.”

India’s Thomas mixed six birdies with three bogeys in his final round 69 to finish solo third on eight-under 208— and on top in the amateur division for the third time in a row this season.

“It was a good week. Played some good golf. I nearly aced the par-3, 15th, which was the highlight of my final round,” said the 16-year-old Dubai-based prodigy, who is supported by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation.

The MENA Golf Tour will travel to South Africa for the first time next month for a three-event series, starting with the South to East Challenge to be held at Centurion, Pretoria, from June 7.

SCOTSWATCH (by Colin Farquharson). Paul Doherty had one of his highest finishes on the MENA Tour for some time with a tied sixth placing on 211 - 10 behind the winner. Doherty had three steady rounds of 70, 70 and 71 for a five-under-par aggregate.
Aberdeen-born Clarke Lutton made the top 20 in a share of 17th place3 with scores of 74, 74 and 72 for two-over 218.
Dunbar's Danny Kay shot 71, 75 and 73 for 219 and joint 21st place.
Lee Harper scored 77, 72 and 75 for joint 35th place on 224.
Lothians amateur Ben Alexander finished T38 on 225 with scores of 73, 77 and 75.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 216 (3x72)
201 Antonio Costa (Chile) 66 67 68
204 Wolmer Murillo (Venezuela) 70 69 65
208 Rayhan Thomas (India) (am) 67 72 69

SCOTS' TOTALS
211 Paul Doherty 70 70 71 (T6)
218 Clarke Lutton 74 72 72 (T17)
219 Danny Kay 71 75 73 (T21)
224 Lee Harper 77 72 75 (T35)
225 Ben Alexander (am) 73 77 75