Thaworn Wiratchant wins Taiwan TPC

Thai golfer Thaworn Wiratchant rediscovered form when he won the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) in Taipei for an unprecedented 16th Asian Tour title yesterday.

The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, whose best result prior to this week was tied 28th in May, carded a four-under-par 68 for a 13-under-par 275 total to win by one-shot at the US$500,000 Asian Tour event.

American overnight leader Chan Kim, winner of the Asian Tour qualifying school in January, led for most of the round but stumbled in the closing stretch when he made three straight bogeys from the 15th hole. He settled for second after shooting a 70 at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

Angelo Que, of the Philippines, a three-time Asian Tour winner, ended his campaign with a 66, the best round of the day, to finish third on 279 while Taiwan's Chan Shih-chang (67) was a further shot back.

"I'm very proud because I can still win at the age of 46. I was really struggling with my irons but I chipped and putted so well. I honestly didn't think that I could win," Thaworn said.

The Thai veteran traded two birdies and one bogey after four holes to trail Kim by three shots but recovered after a one-hour rain suspension with a pair of birdies on five and six. He added another birdie on 13 and cruised home to victory as Kim faded.

"Kim is such a powerful golfer and he had a lot of advantage on the par fives. I had to stay patient. I didn't think I could have won and I would have been satisfied with second place. But he started to drop shots and all of a sudden I was in the lead," Thaworn said.

Kim was disappointed at his collapse after a hot start, eagling the first hole from three feet and birdies on holes three, four and 10. "I got a little greedy," he said.