Trip to northern Thailand pays off for Catlin
In-form American John Catlin carded a final-round 68 to pip local hope Udorn Duangdecha to the Bt2 million Singha Chiang Mai Open in Chiang Mai on Sunday.
The two-time Asian Tour winner and world No 151 finished on 25 under-par (259), seven shots ahead of Udorn, to grab the winner’s cheque for Bt300,000.
“I have played a few co-sanctioned ADT events in Thailand and I knew the All-Thailand Tour was a good one,” said Catlin, who won two Asian Tour this year – the Asia-Pacific in China in May and the Sarawak Championship in Malaysia in July. “As I didn’t have any other events this week, it suited my schedule.”
Despite having a five-shot advantage heading into the final round, Catlin never underestimated the challenged posed by Udorn, an Order of Merit winner on the All-Thailand Tour in 2016.
“I definitely got nervous as I knew it was not going to be easy. Udorn is a good player who would put up a fight. I had to do my best and I’m glad I made it,” added the American, the first foreigner to win an All-Thailand Tour title since South Korean Baek Seuk-Hyun at the Singha Championship in 2013.
Udorn took home prizemoney of Bt185,000, while rising star Atiruj Winaicharoenchai and Pannakorn Uthaipas shared third place three strokes further back on 269.
