Prayad is Thailand Open champion

Hua Hin resident Prayad Marksaeng ended a five-year title drought in great style, firing a superb 64 in the final round to beat Australia’s Scott Strange by two strokes to capture the US$1 million Thailand Open trophy at Thana City Golf & Sports Club yesterday.

The 47-year-old had said at the beginning of the tournament that the par-72, 6,966-yard layout, designed by Greg Norman, doesn’t offer much challenge. And strangely, he was nowhere near the leaders in the last three days until making his move like an accomplished chess master yesterday. Starting three shots behind leader Lucas Lee, the Thai sprinkled his round with nine birdies against just one bogey on the fifth and signed off in style with a winning 24-under 264.

“I had no pressure going into the final day as I was not the leader. I started well with three birdies and I kept the momentum going. I was pretty relaxed playing alongside Simon Yates [who is also based in Hua Hin],” said Prayad, who received a winner’s cheque of US$180,000.

Prayad savoured the taste of an international trophy again after a gap of five years. His last triumph came in the JGTO series, the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan in November 2008. By winning the title, he became the third Thai to win the trophy presented on behalf of His Majesty the King after Suthep Meesawat in 1991 and Boonchu Ruangkit twice in 1992 and 2004.

“After I birdied on the 16th I knew I had the chance. I’m so proud to win this trophy of His Majesty the King. I would like to dedicate this victory to all the Thai people and I’m happy it belongs to a Thai,” said Prayad, who has 10 international victories, six on the Asian Tour and four on the Japan Tour.

 When asked how he felt, an emotional Prayad just said, “I’m happy.” With his voice trembling, the Thai was simply too overwhelmed to continue the post match interview. He later celebrated his long awaited international victory by jumping into the pond on the 18th hole. His 24-under equalled the tournament’s record set by defending champion Chris Wood at the Suwan Golf Club last year.

“My goal from now is to have better results on the Japan Tour,” said Prayad whose three previous Japan Tour victories came in 2008. He flies to Kuala Lumpur today to enter the European Tour sanctioned Maybank Malaysian Open.

While Prayad was hot on his heels, overnight leader Lee and strong contenders Mu Hu of China and defending champion Wood were pretty poor. Lee hit a 73 and had to settle with 18-under-par 270, Hu and Wood carded a 70 each for a 268 which placed them at tied fourth along with South Korea’s Jung-gon Hwang, Min-gyu Cho, David McKenzie of Australia and Scotland’s Simon Yates.

Prayad’s only main rival at the later stage of the final round was Australian Strange who was trailing him by just one stroke going into the final hole. But the 2009 OneAsia No 1 hit his second shot into the bunker and had to finish with a bogey and a 67 for a total 22-under 266 for lone second, one ahead of compatriot Nick Cullen, with a 267.

Last year’s Asian Tour No 1 Thaworn Wiratchant saved the best for last as he carded a 63 for a four-day total of 18-under 270 to land at joint 12th along with Lucas Lee, South Korea’s Kyoung-hoon Lee and Do-hoon Kim, Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama, Kazuhiro Yamashita and Australia’s Brad Kennedy and David Smail.

“I was putting very well today. 18 under is quite a good score and I think this week’s field gives me some idea about how competitive the Japan Tour is,” said Thaworn, who will play the next OneAsia series in Indonesia next week.