Stolz catches Prayad in Thailand

Australian Andre Stolz shot past third-round leader Prayad Marksaeng to claim the Thailand Open on Sunday.

Australian Andre Stolz shot past third-round leader Prayad Marksaeng to claim the Thailand Open on Sunday.

Stolz shot a brilliant 63 at Suwan Golf and Country Club that included nine birdies – six of them coming on the front nine – to ultimately finish two strokes clear of Marksaeng on 22 under par.

Stolz started the day two shots behind the leader, but Marksaeng’s 68 was not enough to hold off the challenge.

“I hit a lot of great shots early on and obviously Prayad and I were battling each other – it was great fun,” said Stolz, who picks up his second second OneAsia Tour title of the season.

“I knew I had to get a fast start and he comes out making birdies as well. The heat knocked me about and I battled the last four or five holes and hit a lot of horrible shots.

“When I walked off the first green today I knew it was going to be a shoot-out. You get days that are crazy like that. The way I am playing at the moment I feel I can win every event I play. I have only played badly on about five days in the last year.”

Marksaeng’s 68 had five birdies and a bogey at the final hole, where his third shot found water after he missed an eight-foot birdie putt on 17 that would have seen him tie for the lead.

“Today I was hoping to shoot five or six under to win the trophy but Stolz is too good,” said Prayad, who finished 20-under for the tournament.

“If you ask me whether I feel disappointed or not, I think I did my best. I played with him the first two days and he did not putt so well like he did today. The turning point was hole seven where I missed a one-footer. He did everything perfectly.”

Australian Brent McCullough finished in joint third on 17 under par alongside Korean Choi Jin-ho, who shot a 69.