Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng was the last man standing after a thrilling final day at the Crowne Plaza Open on Sunday, notching a play-off victory over Marcus Both of Australia.
The stocky Prayad edged out Both with a 16-foot birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death shoot-out at Grand Epoch City Golf Club to win his fifth Asian Tour title, but his first since 2000. It was another disappointing finish for Both, as it was his second runner-up outing this season.
Prayad and Both carded matching final rounds of four-under-par 68 to finish tied on eight-under-par 280, one clear of co-overnight leader Digvijay Singh and Shiv Kapur, both from India, and Australian Alistair Presnell.
Liang Wen-chong was China's best-placed golfer at tied sixth position after a 70 while Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who shot a 73, settled for a share of 10th place alongside co-overnight leader Lu Wen-teh of Chinese Taipei, who stumbled out of contention following a 78.
"I'm really happy to win this title, it's been a long time since I last won on the Asian Tour," said Prayad.
The Thai surged into the lead with a five-birdie run over seven holes in the middle of his round. In the play-off, he found the green in regulation but Both, after landing in thick rough with his tee shot, sent his approach beyond the putting surface to hand the advantage to Prayad.
"It was very close as Marcus finished very strongly on the back nine. In the play-off, I saw the putting line and just rolled in the long putt."
Both looked out of the running but forced his way into the reckoning with four birdies over his closing five holes. He pulled off a spectacular five iron approach shot that landed two feet of the pin at the last hole in regulation to tie Prayad.
"I gave myself half a chance with a strong finish but Prayad played fantastic. I did the right things down the stretch with those four birdies but he did the right thing in the play-off. I'm bit disappointed I did not win," said Both, who was also second in the Macau Open in May.
It was so close yet so far for the 33-year-old Singh who was searching for his first Asian Tour victory. He turned in one-under and was tied for the lead before a bogey on 11 saw him drop one behind. But birdies on 14 and 17 took him to within one stroke from the play-off but the birdie he was desperately searching for on 18 failed to materialise.
"I hit a great shot into 18 and got cheated. The wind picked up and the ball rolled to the back of the green. But I'm pleased to finish third as I was in the running throughout four rounds. I played well this week but two other guys played a bit better," said Singh, whose finish matched his career best outing where he was also third in the 2002 Indian Open.
Kapur, playing in his first full year in Asia, enjoyed his best career finish to date after carding a final round 69 while Presnell produced five birdies on his back nine for a 68 to share third place.
Leading final round scores:
280 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 72-70-70-68, Marcus Both (AUS) 72-69-71-68 (Prayad won title with birdie on first hole of sudden-death play-off).
281 - Alistair Presnell (AUS) 74-69-70-68, Digvijay Singh (IND) 68-72-71-70, Shiv Kapur (IND) 74-70-68-69
286 - Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 74-71-71-70, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 76-69-69-72, Chen Yuan-chi (TPE) 77-70-66-73
287 - Guido Van Der Valk (NDL) 73-71-70-73
289 - Jason Dawes (AUS) 72-71-73-73, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-72-75-73, Darren Griff (CAN) 74-73-68-74, Andrew Buckle (AUS) 74-71-69-75, Prom Meesawat (THA) 71-71-71-76, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 74-71-66-78
290 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 74-72-74-70, Hendrik Buhrmann (RSA) 76-68-75-71, Eiji Mizoguchi (JPN) 76-70-71-73, Ron Won (USA) 74-72-70-74
291 - Yoshinobu Tsukada (JPN) 75-71-74-71, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 74-66-78-73, Corey Harris (USA) 76-72-70-73, Pat Giles (AUS) 73-71-73-74, Olle Nordberg (SWE) 75-70-71-75
292 - Li Chao (CHN) 70-76-72-74, Zheng Wen-gen (CHN) 73-73-70-76.
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