Australia’s Andrew Dodt pinched the US$2 million Thailand Classic by a shot yesterday from home favorite Thongchai Jaidee and overnight leader Scott Hend, claiming his first win since 2010.
Five birdies in a flawless final-round 67 left him 16-under for the tournament, with 272 over the four-day competition at the Black Mountain course in Hua Hin.
It was enough to edge him ahead of Thai star Thongchai, who was well set until a horrible double-bogey on 13 left him playing catch up for the cosanctioned European and Asian Tour title.
Photo: AFP
Thongchai finished with 71 for the day and 273 overall, level with third-round leader Scott Hend, who was left to rue bogeys on holes seven, fourteen and seventeen to go round in 72.
Dodt has been in dismal form since winning the Avantha Masters in India in 2010. He lost his European Tour card in 2013 and had to endure qualifying school in November last year.
“To be honest, losing my card was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. I went home last year, spent 12 months at home, played the Asian Tour again, found myself again, found my game and to be in the winner’s circle again — it’s unbelievable,” he said.
Round of the day went to Canada’s Richard Lee who hit six birdies in a perfect 66 to drag himself into a top-ten finish. His 14-under put him level with American Jason Knutzon and another local favorite Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Early pace-setter Miguel Angel Jimenez endured a poor day, finishing one-over after blundering through the front nine. He drifted to 13-under for the tournament, three shots off the lead, alongside Spanish compatriot Carlos Pigem, Sweden’s Johan Carlsson and Wade Ormsby of Australia.
PEBBLE BEACH
Jim Furyk, who dusted off his clubs this week after a five-month break, surged into the lead at the Pebble Beach National Pro Am after the third round on Saturday.
In his first event since the Tour Championship in September last year, the former US Open champion carded a nine-under 63 on another sunny day at Pebble Beach on California’s Monterey Peninsula.
Furyk birdied seven of the final 10 holes to vault past Australian Matt Jones, who led until he bogeyed his final two holes.
Furyk posted an 18-under 197 total, one stroke ahead of fellow American Brandt Snedeker (67) and Jones (67), with Californian Nick Watney (65) two shots back. All four frontrunners played at Pebble Beach, one of three courses used for the event.
Furyk arrived with an open mind about the state of his game.
“I didn’t really have any expectations,” he said. “I just wanted to come in, find my game and figure where I was at, and I’ve been in a good frame of mind. I’ve found a way to get the ball in the hole this week even though maybe at times I didn’t hit the greatest shots.”
Jones looked like he would be sitting on the 54-hole lead when he reeled off six birdies in seven holes from the 10th hole onward, but he missed shortish putts at his final two holes.
Snedeker, who shared the halfway lead with Jones, was steady, notching six birdies and one bogey for his 16th consecutive round of par or better.
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