Nicholas fails to nick top 10 finish in Thailand

PETALING JAYA: Three bogeys on the back nine put paid to Nicholas Fung’s hopes of earning a top 10 finish in the International Series in Thailand.

Nicholas started the day in joint-eighth position and five strokes off the leader after a superb third round seven-under 64 at the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin.

But bogeys on the 12th, 14th and 15th holes saw him closing off with a one-under 71 yesterday.

Nicholas had to settle for a share of 23rd position with eight other golfers with his four-day aggregate score of 16-under 272.

Nicholas had four-under 68 and three-under 69 in the first-two rounds respectively.

The top 30 finish is still a respectable performance for the Sabahan in the Asian Tour event as he pocketed US$14,325 (RM59,849).

Former Asian Tour winner Ben Leong also made the weekend cut en route to finishing in joint 41st.

Ben carded a final round of two-under 70 to finish with a 14-under 274 total and collected US$9,045 (RM37,790).

American golfer Kim Si-hwan put up a splendid eight-under 63 to win by two shots.

Si-hwan ended the tournament with a four-day score of 26-under 262 as Thai rising star Phachara Khongwatmai settled for second on 264 strokes after a final round of four-under 68.