Koh samui: Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng tamed the 'beast of Samui' for the second time in three years after closing with a six-under-par 65 to win by two shots at the US$300,000 Queen's Cup yesterday.
Prayad overturned a three-shot deficit by firing nine birdies against three bogeys for a winning total of 14-under-par 270 at the Santiburi Samui Country Club, dubbed the 'beast of Samui' due to its challenging layout.
Countryman Thanyakon Khrongpha matched Prayad's efforts on the final day to grab second place while Jazz Janewattananond, also of Thailand, took third on 274 with Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh following rounds of 66 and 68 respectively at the prestigious Queen's Cup, staged in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka carded a 69 to finish two shots back in fifth place on his own while American Paul Peterson (68), Canadian Richard T Lee (70), India's SSS Chawrasia (70) and Japanese Akinori Tani (75) shared sixth on 277.
Prayad, who first won the Queen's Cup in 2013, proved once again that old is gold as he clinched his ninth Asian Tour title at the Santiburi Samui Country Club.
"To be able to win at 49 years old is just incredible for me. I am very proud of myself," said Prayad, who took home the winner's prize purse of $54,000.
"I started with a bogey but I wasn't worried as there are plenty of holes to go. I knew Thanyakon was making a fast charge but I didn't really feel the pressure as he was playing ahead of me but I thought it doesn't matter if I lose because I was already sure that the trophy will remain in Thailand," added Prayad.
Thanyakon was left to rue another missed chance for a maiden victory. The 24-year-old Thai started off promisingly with a birdie on the fourth hole and an eagle on the sixth before adding three more birdies after the turn on No.10, No.12 and No.14 but a costly bogey at the 16th dashed his title hopes.
"I am disappointed, to be honest. I had come close to winning for a couple of times last year and I have been wanting to win on the Asian Tour for so long. I played so well all day. I was really going for the win out there until that bogey on the 16th," said Thanyakon, who enjoyed two runner-up finishes in Indonesia and on home soil last season.
On a day that proved to be a nightmare for overnight leader Akinori Tani, the Japanese repeatedly floundered at the Santiburi Samui Country Club under hot and humid skies.
By hole 14 he had racked up half a course of bogeys. He ended the day on four-over-par 75 and an ignominious joint sixth of 277.
Only a day earlier he had stormed round the same course with a seven-under-par 64, the best score of the tournament.
