Malaysia’s Gavin Green recorded a tied-third finish at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters after closing with a one-over-par 73 at Taiwan Golf & Country Club on Sunday.
The 2017 champion finished the tournament at five-under-par, three shots behind Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, who claimed his maiden Asian Tour title with a dramatic birdie on the final hole.
Green shared third place with South Korea’s Wang Jeunghun and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Suteepat Prateeptienchai. The result marked a strong return to a tournament where the Malaysian had one of his most memorable Asian Tour victories nine years earlier.
Hung began the final round with a one-shot lead and carded a one-under-par 71, finishing at eight-under, one stroke ahead of Australian Wade Ormsby.
The home favourite appeared to be cruising towards victory after a birdie on the 14th gave him a two-shot lead. However, consecutive bogeys on the 16th and 17th opened the door for Ormsby, who had charged into contention with a five-under-par 67.
With a playoff looming, Hung sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the final green to secure the title.
“I’m very excited and very, very happy. I think my whole body is still shaking,” said Hung, whose wife Nikki was his caddie.
“I have to apologise to the spectators because I made people nervous because of my bogeys on 16 and 17. But on the last putt I made it, and I’m very happy with the final result.”
Hung Chien-Yao of Chinese Taipei. Picture by Graham Uden.
Hung’s victory came 21 years after he made his Asian Tour debut at the same tournament as an amateur in 2005. He entered the week in strong form, having finished third at the Yeangder TPC and won the Ambassador ADT Open in July.
The 34-year-old earned US$240,000 and moved into sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Ormsby finished alone in second place after his closing 67, which tied the day’s lowest round.
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert shot a 69 to finish tied for seventh, retaining his lead in the Asian Tour Order of Merit with four events remaining this season.
Thai teenager Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat also impressed with a top-10 finish in only his second professional tournament. The 19-year-old closed with a 70 to finish at three-under-par.
The Asian Tour will now take a two-week break before resuming with the SJM Macao Open at Macau Golf & Country Club from 15–18 October, followed by the Link Hong Kong Open from 22–25 October.
