Suteepat Prateeptienchai og Thailand. - AFP file photo
TAIPEI (AFP): Suteepat Prateeptienchai shot a three-under final round of 69 on Sunday to hold off John Catlin and win at the Asian Tour's Yeangder TPC in Taiwan.
The 31-year-old Thai finished on 21-under par to win by two strokes from the charging American Catlin, who shot a 65 which featured five straight birdies from the first hole.
Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines was third, one shot back after carding 70.
Taiwan's Lee Chieh-po was fourth, another stroke behind, after a 67 at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.
"I love Taiwan!" said Suteepat, whose other win on the Asian Tour came at last year's Taifong Open in Taiwan.
"It was tough today, because of the wind and good players followed me. I saw Catlin's score and then got nervous."
He had a two-shot cushion at the start of the day and, despite Catlin's brilliant start, was in complete control until a wobble towards the end when he bogeyed 15 and 16.
Catlin, playing two groups ahead, made a birdie on the par-five 18th, which meant Suteepat arrived at the last with a one-shot lead.
He found the front of the green with his approach and nearly holed his chip for an eagle three before tapping in for a birdie and the title.
Leading scores after the final round of the Yeangder TPC, at Linkou International (par 72):
267 - Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA) 64-66-68-69
269 - John Catlin (USA) 69-67-68-65
270 - Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 67-67-66-70
271 - Lee Chieh-po (TPE) 68-70-66-67
272 - Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 68-68-67-69
274 - Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN) 68-70-67-69, Sarit Suwannarut (THA) 69-67-68-70
275 - Wang Wei-hsuan (TPE) 65-70-71-69, Kazuki Higa (JPN) 70-69-64-72 - AFP
