South African Des Terblanche swept to victory in the Thailand Open at Springfield Royal Country Club after firing a five-under-par 67 to beat Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee by a shot.
Terblanche didn't drop a shot in the final round and finished with a four round winning total of 19-under-par 269 to earn US$32,300.Thongchai, who was bidding to become the first Thai to win the national open in eight years, carded a 68. Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, in with a 67, finished third a stroke further back.
"I played nicely, I had no big mistakes. My concentration was reasonable. I was a little bit tired towards the end because I have been sick for the last two weeks with a bit of flu. Maybe that helped me take my mind of the game a little bit," said Terblanche.
He started the day in a share of the lead with Thongchai and Japan's Daisuke Maruyama but quickly pulled away after birdieing the first two holes. Thongchai, playing in the final group behind Terblanche, caught his South African opponent after 12 holes but the Thai player hit his drive into
water on the par four 13th and bogied the hole.
A birdie two by Terblanche on the 14th gave him a two-stroke cushion playing the closing holes. The South African will play full-time on the European Tour next year after winning his Tour card this season by finishing 100th on the Volvo Order of Merit. His two previous victories on the Asian PGA Tour were in the Volvo Matchplay Championship and Sabah Masters, both in 1997.
