Asian Tour: Vincent claims maiden win at International Series stop, Hong Kong’s Tiachi Kho stumbles in final round
- Par at the last enough to secure one-shot win for Scott Vincent over Travis Smyth
- Kho has worst round of tournament to card 3-over 74 and slips out of the top 20, finishing at level-par overall
Scott Vincent could have been forgiven for thinking this was not to be his week when he turned up at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort but his clubs did not.
Happily, the missing clubs materialised in time for the International Series England and worked to stunning effect as the popular Zimbabwean recorded a one-shot victory, finishing at 12-under-par for the tournament.
In Sunday’s final round he fought out a pulsating back-nine birdie battle with overnight leader Travis Smyth before sealing success with a seven-foot par putt on the final green, for a closing five-under 66.
“It’s amazing,” said the 30-year-old Vincent of his maiden Asian Tour triumph. “This is the tour I started on, so obviously it’s nice to get the first win out here. It has felt like a long time but my game is trending in a good direction.”
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana secured third place after shooting a 69 to finish three behind Vincent, while South African Justin Harding was a shot further back after also carding a 69.
Joohyung Kim, last year’s Asian Tour No 1, was fifth after shooting 72.
However, it was a day to forget for Hong Kong amateur Taichi Kho, who started the final round at three-under and tied for 13th, and finished it at level-par and in a tie for 25th after a disappointing 74.