MACAU: Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan swept to a brilliant wire-to-wire victory at the Macau Open on Sunday for his first Asian Tour title in seven years.

The 29-year-old fired a four-under-par 66 at the Macau Golf and Country Club to finish on 20-under, two strokes clear of fellow Thai Gunn Charoenkul (67). Poosit Supupramai (64) made it a Thai clean sweep of the top three on 16-under par.

One stroke back in a share of fourth on 15-under was Asian Tour Order of Merit leader John Catlin (65), who won the International Series Macau on the same course in March. Filipino Miguel Tabuena was on the same mark as he celebrated his 30th birthday Sunday by making an eagle three at the final hole for a spectacular round of seven-under 63.

“I’m so happy,” said Rattanon, whose only previous Asian Tour win came at the Thailand Open in 2017. “I didn’t think I could win again, because I had a very tough year in 2019. “I played really badly that year but I told myself to not give up, that’s why I could improve my game and win again.” It was another near miss for Gunn, who recorded his fourth second-place finish on the Asian Tour.

“This is great. It’s another second place, not a win but I am fine with it,” said the 32-year-old. Defending champion Min Woo Lee from Australia signed off with a 66 to tie for ninth on 11-under par, while 2023 British Open champion Brian Harman, from the United States, was a stroke further back in a share of 13th. — AFP