Kanchanaburi: Taiwan's Chan Shih-chang claimed a magnificent wire-to-wire victory in the Royal's Cup yesterday to secure his second title on the Asian Tour in the space of three months and fourth in total.
Chan closed with a four-under-par 68 to finish with an impressive winning total of 23 under for a three-shot win over Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana and American Kim Si-Hwan.
Sadom also carded a 68 while Kim Si-Hwan fired a 70 on the last of the second Asian Tour event of the season.
Thailand's Nitithorn Thippong and Kim Bi-O from South Korea, finished three strokes further back, in a tie for fourth after rounds of 66 and 68 respectively.
Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond closed with a 65 in a group of players tied sixth to suggest the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion is starting to rediscover his best form.
It looked like being a much closer finish to the US$400,000 event when Chan started the day with a one-shot lead over Kim Si-Hwan before the American drew level with him on 21 under after nine holes.
But Kim Si-Hwan bogeyed four in row from 10 before Chan took control with three birdies on the trot from the 13th to take a commanding five-shot lead.
Kim Si-Hwan and Sadom both made birdie on the last two holes to draw closer, but it was not enough to stop the impressive Chan, who won the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship in November.
"It has been a great week, claiming the hole in one prize and winning again in Thailand. Amazing," said Chan, who made a hole-in-one on the par-three 16th on the second day.
Sadom won the SMBC Singapore Open last month and was one of the favourites this week but never really got close to the runaway winner.
"I think everything was good today, it was just my putting that was so-so. The greens are difficult, and I couldn't commit to my lines, but I think I did my best. I thought I would have a chance to catch up with Chan today, but he was playing too well," said Sadom.