TAMSUI : Australia's Scott Hend yesterday delivered a lesson on how to cope with the treacherous conditions when he posted a two-over-par 74 to win the US$600,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Hend relied on his experience of playing in Scotland last week to lift his fourth Asian Tour title with a winning total of three-under-285.
Sam Cyr of the United States enjoyed his best result on the Asian Tour this season with a second-placed finish after battling to a 77 while Bangladesh's Siddikur and Thailand's Arnond Vongvanij shared third place on matching 291s.
It was Hend's mental strength and Scottish experience that saw him preserving his lead and clinch a decisive four-shot victory.
"It's nice to win from the front instead of always coming from behind," said Hend, who took home the winner's cheque for US$120,000. "To be able to win this tournament was always a tough mental challenge especially under those conditions we had this week."
LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES
285 _ Scott Hend (AUS) 69-72-70-74
289 _ Sam Cyr (USA) 70-69-73-77
291 _ Arnond Vongvanij (THA) 75-73-70-73, Siddikur (BAN) 72-71-71-77
293 _ Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 72-70-72-79
294 _ Lu Wen-Teh (TPE) 73-75-72-74, Baek Seuk-Hyun (KOR) 73-70-74-77
295 _ Matthew Stieger (AUS) 74-71-74-76, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 72-76-70-77
296 _ Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 72-75-78-71, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 76-70-73-77
297 _ Elmer Salvador (PHI) 73-74-76-74, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 71-78-74-74, Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 75-72-75-75, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 75-73-73-76