This handout photo taken and released by the Asian Tour on December 4, 2022 shows Sarit Suwannarat of Thailand posing with the winner's trophy during round four of the Indonesia Masters golf tournament at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club in Jakarta. - AFP
JAKARTA, Dec 5, 2022 (AFP): Thailand's Sarit Suwannarut secured his first Asian Tour golf title with a sweeping four-shot win at a weather-delayed BNI Indonesian Masters on Sunday evening (Dec 5).
The 24-year-old rising star bagged $1.5 million in prize money after a last-round 68 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club left him 20 under par and well clear of his rivals.
"I think I almost cried coming down the 18th," said Sarit.
"I just can't put into words how I feel. I am just happy. I didn't feel the pressure that much, I was just enjoying my game. I have just enjoyed the whole week."
The tournament, which has become the flagship event of the Asian Tour, was delayed several times because of bad weather.
"It's been a really tough year. I had Covid at the start of the year, later I couldn't get a visa for Korea, and I was battling to keep my card at one point," said Sarit.
India's Anirban Lahiri, who won the tournament in 2014, finished second with a last-round 66 while Taiwan's Chan Shih-chang and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell both finished five back of Sarit to tie for third.
England's three-time champion Lee Westwood finished ninth after a round of 71 to close out his week.
Defending champion Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand finished joint 6th.
Despite missing out on a second title in Jakarta, Lahiri was satisfied regardless of the result.
"It was a really good week. I think I finally got into some rhythm you know, just coming off not playing much golf," he said.
"I was really happy with the way I started swinging it, much better, more like what I like to see from my game."
The tournament has been part of the Asian tour since 2011 but was not held in the past two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. - AFP
