Brilliant finish underlines Prayad dominance in Queen's Cup

The persistent drizzle at the Santiburi Samui Country Club failed to hold back Prayad as the hot shot Thai unleashed two eagles, one on the eighth and the other on the finishing hole before signing off the final day with a 67 and a total 14-under-par 270.

“I’m happy to finally make it after coming so close many times. I dedicate this win to all Thai fans and I’m glad to make them happy,” said the 47-year-old, who was runner-up in 2007 and 2011.

“I had no pressure from start. Even when I bogeyed the first hole, I was cool because I was playing alongside Arnond. After he bogeyed on the 12th, I knew I had the chance. On the 18th green, I read the line and went for the eagle putt,” said Prayad, who underlined his supremacy on this mountainous course with a cool eagle finish from six yards on the 18th hole.

Prayad, who has won a total of seven Asian Tour trophies, ended a long drought with this victory. His last win came in the 2007 Volvo Masters of Asia at the Thai Country Club. He has won a total of five titles this year, including PGA Thailand in Chachoengsao, Asean PGA Tour in Khon Kaen, Thailand Open OneAsia Tour at the Thana City Golf and Sports Club, and All Thailand Tour in Chachoengsao.

“This win is special as I haven’t won an Asian Tour for a long time. I’m flying to Ibaraki on Monday for a Japan Tour event [the Japan Golf Tour Championship Shishido Hills, a major],” added Prayad, who completed a hat-trick of Thai wins in this event after Chawalit Plaphol won in 2011 and Thaworn Wiratchant last year. Apart from US$56,142 winner’s prize money, Prayad also won a Bangkok Airways vulture ticket worth Bt100,000.

Young gun Arnond, with a finishing 69, trailed three strokes behind at lone second with a total 11-under-par 273.

“Today I played very well. The conditions were difficult but Prayad just played a bit better. I’m not disappointed. I am happy with the way I played. Even though I didn’t win, I still feel like I didn’t lose either,” said Arnond who took home US$34,309. He was two shots ahead of halfway leader Daisuke Kataoka of Japan who hit a 68 for a 275.

Twenty-year-old Phanupol Pittayarat fired the day’s lowest round of 64 which earned him US$1,500 as the top scorer on the final day. His total score of six-under-par 278 placed him at tied fourth with 2010 winner Tetsuji Hiratsuka of Japan, Hsu Mong-nan of Taiwan and teenager Jazz Janewattananond.

“This is the second time I hit seven-under in a round, the first time was in the Selangor Masters in Malaysia two years. Every part of my game worked very well today, too bad it didn’t happen in the first three rounds,” said Phanupol.

Overnight leader Mohammed Siddikur of Bangladesh had double bogeys on the second and seventh holes and had to settle for joint eighth with Hung Chien-yao of Taiwan after he sank a 77 for a total 279.