KHON KAEN : Thai veteran Thai Prayad Marksaeng yesterday drew on his years of experience to seal victory in the US$100,000 Singha Esan Open at the fifth play-off hole.
Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng.
The 47-year-old saw off challenges from countrymen Thanyakon Khrongpha, a two-time winner on the ASEAN PGA Tour, and Sattaya Supupramai and Thailand-based Korean Baek Seuk-hyun after the quartet finished regulation play tied on 14-under 274 at Singha Park Golf Club.
Prayad, co-overnight leader with Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines, endured a difficult day but his even-par 72 proved good enough to get him into the sudden-death play-off after Sattaya blew his chances of outright victory by bogeying the final two holes. Lascuna slumped to a 74 and finished joint-sixth.
Prayad birdied the fifth hole of the play-off _ the par-five 578-yard 18th _ to edge Thanyakon after Sattaya and Baek were eliminated at the first and third play-off holes respectively.
"I am exhausted but happy," said Prayad, who has won six events on the Asian Tour and three in Japan.
"My chipping was bad all day and I suffered a bit of bad luck _ I hit it into the water at the sixth when a swarm of insects distracted me. Even though Sattaya was two ahead going into the closing stretch, I never lost hope."
Prayad, who beat fellow veteran Boonchu Raungkit in a play-off to win the 2007 Singha Esan Open, added that he should have won at the first hole of sudden death.
"I missed a four-foot putt at the first play-off hole. I think my experience told," Prayad said after picking up the winner's cheque for US$14,570.
Thanyakon, who closed the gap on Prayad with a closing round of 69, including a birdie at the 18th, said that he had learned a lot from playing with the seasoned campaigner.
"I am not that disappointed _ I gained a lot of experience playing with Prayad which will help me," he said.
There was gripping drama at the 18th hole in regulation, with Sattaya, Prayad and Baek all missing opportunities to win outright.
Sattaya, who dropped a shot at the 17th after hitting his tee-shot through the green to see his advantage reduced to a single shot, found a watery grave with his approach to the 18th and bogeyed for a round of 69.
"There was mud on the ball [on the last hole]," the 29-year-old said. "I aimed left but it was not enough.
" I am disappointed although I don't want to think too many negative thoughts as there is a lot of golf to play this year."
His bogey left Prayad needing a birdie to win in 72 holes but he hit his approach putt off the green and his return effort from 20 feet shaved the hole.
Earlier, Baek, who had three birdies on the trot from the 15th, missed a five-foot birdie putt at the last that would have taken him to 15-under. He closed with a 67.
The expected shoot-out between Prayad and Lascuna failed to materialise with the Filipino making a nightmare start with bogeys on the opening two holes.
FINAL SCORES
(Thai unless stated)
274 _ Prayad Marksaeng 66-70-66-72 (won at fifth play-off hole), Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR) 68-73-66-67, Sattaya Supupramai 69-66-70-69, Thanyakon Khrongpha 71-65-69-69
275 _ Wisut Artjanawat 72-69-68-66
276 _ Thammanoon Sriroj 66-72-71-67, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 66-66-70-74
277 _ Charles Hong (PHI) 70-70-69-68, Mars Pucay (PHI) 65-70-71-71
278 _ Pawin Ingkhapradit 68-70-71-69, Kittiroj Chantharothai 65-72-71-70, Panuphol Pittayarat 66-72-69-71, Pipatpong Naewsuk 71-69-66-72