Wiratchant wins Indonesian Open
Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant oday won his first European Tour title in the Indonesia Open.
Wiratchant carded a final round 63 for a 25 under par total of 255 in Jakarta, closing in style with a birdie on the last.
Ireland's Paul McGinley finished on -14, while Michael Hoey wrapped up on -10. Stephen Browne finished on -6 and Philip Walton ended up on par.
Wiratchant finished five shots clear of France’s Raphael Jacquelin with Australia’s Adam Fraser a shot further back in third after a hole-in-one on the 17th.
Wiratchant becomes the second Thai player to win on the tour, following in the footsteps of Thongchai Jaidee who successfully defended his Malaysian Open title last month.
Meanwhile Colin Montgomerie had earlier come agonisingly close to the first ever sub-60 round on the European Tour.
Montgomerie had a 10ft putt on the closing hole of his final round to record a stunning 59, but left it several inches short of the cup.
The 41-year-old had to settle for a 60 and 18 under par total of 262, although his nine birdies in a row from the 17th – having started from the 10th – created a new tour record.
Ironically Montgomerie had earlier eagled the par five ninth to complete his delayed third round, but at the second time of asking drove into the rough and was unable to reach the green in two.
“I had a golden opportunity,” Montgomerie admitted. “I hit my sand wedge in there to about 10ft but the grain grabbed the ball and didn’t really roll the way the other putts had.
“It all comes down to the last hole but you forget about what happened midway through the round and I was going nowhere. I don’t know what I took on the 15th tee but I want more of it.”
The former European number one’s superb effort lifted him into a share of fourth place with Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, but will not be enough to secure his place in the US Masters.
The Scot needed to win to be certain of moving up into the world’s top 50, but will now have to wait to see if he receives a special invitation.
