JAKARTA (AFP) ? Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant held on to win the $1-million Indonesia Open on Sunday, later admitting he totally lost his touch after a blistering start to the week.
The 44-year-old just prevailed by one stroke from Indonesia's rising star Rory Hie, defending champion Michael Hendry from New Zealand and South Korean Choi Jin-Ho after a gripping finish.
Thaworn lifts his first title on OneAsia after making a battling par on the 18th at Damai Indah Golf Club in Jakarta.
"I am very happy to win even though I didn't play well. It was an uphill battle and the past two days have been a struggle," said Thaworn, who carded a disappointing 73 to finish with a four-round aggregate of 13-under-par 275.
"After I bogeyed nine and 11 I didn't think I could do it. I felt I must make that up and down on the last as I was too tired for a play-off," said Thaworn, who also triumphed in 2005.
"I had to work a lot harder to win this Indonesia Open compared with the last time I won it."
He led by one shot playing the final hole and a sudden-death play-off beckoned after his tee shot found an awkward lie on the edge of a bunker on the par-four closing hole.
He had to play that shot with his feet in the trap and he splashed it out to 10 yards short of the green. Using all of his experience he chipped to a foot to secure the crucial par.
Hendry, who was paired with Thaworn, had a 35-foot birdie putt to draw level but he just missed.
"There is no secret to my success. I just work very hard on my game and make sure I look after myself and eat the right food," added Thaworn, who pocketed a cheque for $180,000.
The 22-year-old Hie, who also finished second behind Australia's Andre Stolz in the Indonesia PGA Championship in March, was left deflated at just missing out once again.
"It hurts, of course, being this close to winning, but sometimes you have to fall before rising to the top," he said.
"I have learned my lesson and I will work harder to win the tournament on my home soil.
"I really hope it's just a matter of time before winning a tournament."
OneAsia next heads to the $1-million Thailand Open, to be held from August 11 to 14.
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