Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant claimed a record 14th Asian Tour title as he cruised to a three-shot victory at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in Malaysia yesterday.
The 45-year-old shot a three-under-par 69 in the final round for a winning total of 16-under-par 272 at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.
India’s rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar was second in the US$395,000 event, with Vietnam’s Michael Tran, Bangladesh’s Siddikur and Spain’s Javi Colomo tied for third another shot behind.
Photo: AFP / ASIAN TOUR / KHALID REDZA
“I’m very glad to win this tournament,” said Thaworn, who pocketed US$60,900 for his record triumph, according to an Asian Tour press release.
“When I played in the practice round, I thought I would have a disadvantage on the par fives, but I holed a few birdies and my confidence started to build,” he said.
“The first time I joined the Asian Tour, I couldn’t make the cut. I never thought I would come this far. After I won my first title [1996 Sabah Masters in Malaysia], I thought I could win more and I kept practicing more and more to make myself better,” Wiratchant added.
Bhullar, 24, said Thaworn, who held a three-shot lead overnight, was too far ahead to catch.
“He’s an experienced guy as he knows how to close the deal. Congratulations to him,” he said.
Tran, 22, Vietnam’s only player on the Asian Tour, has thought about quitting the game after a lack of success.
“This should give me some hope to get into the events later, like the Thailand Golf Championship and Iskandar Johor Open. If I can get my card by finishing in the top-60 [of the Order of Merit], it will change my decision,” he said.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was