Perfect wedding gift for Lee after playoff win in Thai Open

BY PHUAH SHEW BENG

PHUKET: Unfancied Richard Lee of New Zealand gave himself a perfect wedding present yesterday when he triumphed in a sudden-death playoff to win the 39th Thai Airways International Thailand Open at the Blue Canyon Country Club here. 

Two strokes off the pace at the start of the day, Lee played himself into the playoff by shooting a two-under 70 for a nine-under 279 at the 7,134-yard course. He went on to beat overnight joint leader Scott Barr of Australia, who posted a final round 72, for his first title on the Asian Tour. 

In the first playoff hole at the par-four 18th, Lee played his tee-shot into the fairway but Barr hit into the flowerbed and was given a free drop. 

Lee then hit his second shot onto the green while Barr powered his second shot into the rough on the fringe of the green. 

Barr then made a bad chip and the ball overshot the green. He failed to put his fourth shot into the cup and it was as good as over for him. 

Lee, the 1992 New Zealand amateur champion, failed to convert his birdie putt but he tapped in for a par to win the title. 

The win was a big relief for Lee. He won a minor title, the Uanuatu Open in Fiji in 2001. But he played in the Japan Tour in 2003 and on the Australasian Tour between 1997 and 2004 without success. 

And the prize of US$78,750 (RM299,250) will certainly go a long way to help pay the expenses of his wedding in two weeks' time. 

“It feels a bit strange at the moment, a bit surreal. I didn't really imagine I would go on to win,” said Lee, who refused to divulge anything on his wedding. 

“It's nice to finally win an event. I turned pro since I was 20 and I've struggled for a long time. 

“Last week in Myanmar (where he shot 80 and 75), I absolutely hated the game. In the last nine holes, I started to tinker with my swing and I found something and this week I started to putt better and things just came into place.” 

It was a disappointing finish for Barr, who was never out of the lead in all four rounds. 

“It's a shame to come out short in the end. But in a playoff, it can go either way,” said the 32-year-old Barr, who picked up US$54,000 (RM205,200) but is still winless on the Tour. 

Australian Scott Strange, who came from behind to win the Myanmar Open, came up short this time. 

Strange, who penalised himself a shot for a rule infringement on the sixth hole, shot a 72 to settle for joint third spot on a total of 280 with American Bryan Saltus, who carded the lowest round of the day with a 68. 

Indians Harmeet Kahlon, who went into the final round as joint leader with Barr at nine-under, and Jeev Milkha Singh, who was only one shot off the lead, never got going in the final round.  

Harmeet made a mess of the par five 11th where he double bogeyed on the way to a 74 for a 281 total. Jeev blew up with a 78 to settle for joint 10th on 286. 

Rashid Ismail, who made his first cut here this season, was the best-placed Malaysian. He shot a 71 to finish joint 39th on four-over 292. He picked up US$3,300 (RM12,540). 

Another Malaysian, P. Gunasegaran, who blew up with an 82 in the third round, was placed joint 57th after posting a 73 for a total of 296. He collected US$1,875 (RM7,125). 

The third Malaysian in the field, M. Sasidaran, was also joint 57th after carding his worst round of the tournament with a 77. 

LEADING FINAL SCORES 

279: Richard Lee (Nzl) 70-70-69-70, Scott Barr (Aus) 65-68-74-72 (Lee won on first sudden-death playoff hole). 

280: Bryan Saltus (Usa) 70-72-70-68, Scott Strange (Aus) 68-67-73-72. 

281: Harmeet Kahlon (Ind) 70-70-67-74. 

285: Ross Bain (Sco) 72-73-71-69, Larry Austin (Aus) 72-69-72-72, Chris Rodgers (Eng) 70-70-73-72, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72-70-70-73. 

286: Wang Ter-chang (Tpe) 72-73-70-71, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 65-69-74-78, Angelo Que (Phi) 71-70-67-78.