England’s Chris Wood secured the first win of his professional career last Sunday with a two-shot victory in a rain-interrupted U.S. $1 million Thailand Open, breaking the hearts of home fans seeking a first Thai champion in eight years.
The 24-year-old European Tour regular — competing in a OneAsia Tour event for the first time — fired rounds of 67, 64, 67 and 67 for a 23-under par total of 265, although preferred lies were allowed because of soggy conditions at the 6,471 metre (7,077 yard) Suwan Golf & Country Club on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Chris Wood holds up the Thailand Open trophy after securing victory with a final round 67 at the Suwan Golf & Country Club, Sunday, August 12. (Photo courtesy OneAsia.asia)
Hard-charging Thais Arnond Vongvanij (65) and Wisut Artjanawat (67) battled to catch the strapping 1.96-metre (6 ft 5 inch) Wood, but had to settle for a share of third place with Korean Lee Dong-hwan (67).
Alone in second was Jang Dong-kyu, also of Korea, who completed the first nine holes in just 29 shots en-route to a closing 63 and the best result of his career.
“It is brilliant – I am really, really pleased,” Wood said, after what appeared to be a victory march from the 17th was interrupted by a rain delay of over an hour.
“It is hard winning. I always felt that once I got one win it would give me the confidence to go on and win more, so hopefully I can take this confidence back to the remainder of the tournaments I have got for the season.”
Thailand has not produced a home winner of the National Open since Boonchu Ruangkit won his second in 2004.
(Source – OneAsia.asia)
