Chinese Taipei veteran Lu Wen-teh shattered the hopes of a home victory by Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand with a play-off triumph at the Bangkok Airways Open on Sunday.

The 42-year-old Lu, the overnight leader, edged out the local favourite with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death shoot-out at the demanding Santiburi Samui Country Club after both players finished tied on seven-under-par 277 in the US$200,000 Asian Tour event.

Lu carded a closing one-over-par 72 on a final day that was disrupted by three hours due to torrential rain. But the wait was nothing as it has been a long seven years since Lu's last triumph.

"I'm very happy, it was a long day and I was feeling very tired at the end," said Lu, who picked up US$31,500 and became the third Chinese Taipei player to win on the Asian Tour this year. "The competition is very difficult on Tour these days, so this is a good win for me."

Leading by one stroke into the last round, Lu stumbled early with three bogeys and a birdie over his first five holes as Thammanoon took over the lead. Another bogey on 11 saw him drop to two behind Thammanoon but he showed great determination to stay in the title chase, shooting birdies on the 15th and 17th holes from close range to tie Thammanoon, who signed off with a 71.

"I stayed calm after my poor start as I know that the back nine is very difficult and there was a long way for us to go. I made some good birdies on 15 and 17 but looking back now, my par on 18 in regulation play was crucial as I had to make a good chip to save par for the play-off," said Lu, who entered the week on the back of four recent top-10s.

In extra-time, played at the par four 18th and in fading light, Thammanoon sent his approach into the greenside bunker, blasted 10 feet past the flag and made bogey. Lu, who was two on the fringe, chipped up to two feet and safely parred for his victory, which also earned him an exemption into next month's HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai.

Thammanoon was dejected losing in front of a his home fans. "I tried to hit a fade onto the green in the play-off but it faded too much. I didn't have a good lie in the bunker which was probably due to the heavy rain."

"After the third round, I knew that Lu would be very strong today as he's such a straight hitter. He played well."

Thammanoon said a missed birdie attempt on the 16th hole from eight feet was crucial as it could have widened the gap to two strokes as Lu made bogey on that hole. The Thai also failed to find any rhythm in his game after the three-hour rain delay.

"On 16, Lu made a good bogey save and I missed my birdie putt. That was crucial. The rain delay was hard on my game as I hit a lot of poor shots after that," said Thammanoon.

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, winner of the Crowne Plaza Open, Beijing two weeks ago, finished a stroke back in third place after a 67.

"I thought a six under total would be good to win it. I later knew that I had to shoot one more birdie coming home as the leaders were on seven-under but I hit some terrible approach shots on 15 and 18 and didn't have a chance to make birdie," said Prayad.

India's Shiv Kapur continued his recent strong run with a fourth place finish after closing with a 66 for a 279 total, two behind the play-off duo while Chinese Taipei's Chen Yuan-chi and Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, last year's Asian Tour number one, shared fourth place on 281.

First round leader Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand shared seventh place with Australians Andrew Buckle, Robin Godgetts and Unho Park on 282.

Source - Asian Tour

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