Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang prevailed after a gripping finish to win the US$1 million Blue Canyon Phuket Championship and become the first winner on the Asian Tour following a 20-month hiatus.
Chan shot a final round four-under-par 68 to finish on 18-under-par, edging Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Joohyung Kim from Korea by one shot. Sadom fired a 67 while teenager Kim returned 66 on the iconic Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club.
“I always enjoy coming to Thailand. I feel very relaxed playing here. Actually, I feel less pressure playing here than playing back home. It’s my second win since my baby boy arrived eight months ago. I guess its baby luck!” said Chan, who picked up a cheque for US$180,000 for his third Asian Tour win.
The 35-year-old was paired in the final group with Korean Sihwan Kim and Sadom and despite eagling the ninth he was still three behind Sihwan Kim at the turn. But Chan showed why he is already a winner on tour by birdieing four holes in a row from the 13th.
Tied with Sadom on the par-four 18th hole, Chan got up and down from the front of the green to make par after holing out from four feet. The Thai player missed the green to the left with his approach and failed to make his 12-footer for par.
Chan warmed up for this week’s event by finishing second in the Yeangder TPC on home soil last week ‒ an event normally played on the Asian Tour but could not this year because of Covid-19. He two previous Asian Tour titles both came in 2016 first in the King’s Cup here in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan. He is also a six-time winner on the Asian Development Tour ‒ the last of those coming in 2018.
Sadom was looking for his fifth win in two months ‒ he had won four times on the All Thailand Golf Tour, including the Thailand Open ‒ and has now not shot over par in 20 consecutive rounds.
“I tried my best, I came so close. It’s disappointing to bogey 18 but I will learn from it and come back stronger next week,” said Sadom, who birdied three on the trot from seven and 13, 15 and 16 before hitting a wayward tee shot on 18.
Chasing his second Asian Tour title, 19-year-old Kim made seven birdies including on 18 against just one bogey to tie Sadom for second place.
American Berry Henson (66), Australian Scott Hend (67) and two other Koreans, Bio Kim (64) and Sihwan Kim (70), tied for fourth on 16-under-par.
Thai whizz-kid Ratchanon Chantananuwat took top amateur honours (Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)
Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur sensation, once again thrived playing in his first Asian Tour event when shot a brilliant 65 to finish in a tie for 15th on 12-under-par. He secured the low amateur award ‒ for the seventh time in a row in a pro event ‒ after a brilliant round made up of eight birdies and one bogey.
“I made all the birdie putts when I had to, but I did still miss quite a lot. I am really happy to win best amateur in my first Asian Tour event.” said the rising star, who was 11-under-par over the weekend and heads into next week’s Laguna Phuket Championship brimming with confidence.
Ben Leong finished as best Malaysian in T23 place on nine-under-par, followed by Nicholas Fung in T36 on six-under-par.
Both Phuket events, called the Asian Tour Phuket Series, boast prizemoney of US$1 million and will be followed by two events being planned in Singapore in January that will bring to a conclusion the modified 2020-21 season.
Results (Top 10 and ties):
270 – Chan Shih-chang (TPE) 66-68-68-68.
271 – Joohyung Kim (KOR) 69-67-69-66, Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) 68-64-72-67.
272 – Bio Kim (KOR) 70-71-67-64, Berry Henson (USA) 70-69-67-66, Scott Hend (AUS) 69-71-65-67, Sihwan Kim (USA) 68-66-68-70.
274 – Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 67-70-71-66, Veer Ahlawat (IND) 70-70-67-67.
Malaysian Scores:
T23 – Ben Leong 279 (69-68-71-71)
T36 – Nicholas Fung 282 (75-67-68-72)
Missed Cut: Gavin Green, Galven Green, Amir Nazrin
