Asian Tour: Suteepat holds off Caitlin charge to claim wire-to-wire win in Taiwan
31-year-old Thai golfer shoots three-under-par 69 to finish two shots clear of the field at Linkou International Golf and Country Club
Suteepat Prateeptienchai held off a hard charging John Catlin to claim a wire-to-wire victory at the Yeangder TPC in Taiwan on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Thai finished with a three-under-par 69 to finish at 21 under, two shots clear of the Asian Tour No 1, who made an explosive start to his final round, rattling off five straight birdies in a seven-under 65.
Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines was outright third, one shot back, following a 70, while Taiwan’s Lee Chieh-po was fourth, on 17 under, 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 on the self-ruled island. “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.
