>>hua hin: Jazz Janewattananond held his nerve when it mattered most to hold off a spirited charge by fellow Thai Varanyu Rattanaphaibulkij and win the MahaSamutr Masters at Banyan Golf Club on Thursday.
Jazz Janewattananond celebrates with the trophy.
Starting the final round tied for the lead with France's Lionel Weber, Jazz closed with an even-par 72, forcing a sudden-death play-off which he won with a birdie on the first extra hole, becoming the first Thai player to win a Mena (Middle East and North Africa) Tour event.
Jazz broke free early, making three birdies in four holes after opening with a bogey and was able to keep his nose ahead for much of the day, but two bogeys on the back nine prevented him from settling the issue in regulation play.
Four shots off the pace overnight, Varanyu produced a bogey-free 68, highlighted by an eagle on the par-five third hole but his scintillating final-round charge fell agonisingly short. Judging by the way he played overall, it might just be history deferred.
"Very happy to win my first event on the Mena Tour. It was quite windy out there and there was a bit more pressure playing like a match play," said Jazz.
"I holed a clutch putt on the 18th to get into the play-off and then managed to make another nice putt on the first extra [ninth] hole from 20 feet which was great."
South Africa's Tyler Hogarty, Jamie Elson of England and Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol shot matching 68s to join Wolmer Murillo of Venezuela for a share of third on 212.
Thailand's Worathon Zeng, 18, took the amateur division honours.