LONDON, 28 March 2005 — Thaworn Wiratchant became the second player from Thailand to win a European Tour title with a five-shot victory at the Indonesia Open in Jakarta yesterday.
Thaworn followed in the footsteps of his compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, firing a closing seven-under-par 63 at Cengkareng Golf Club for a 25-under total of 255.
It was the lowest 72-hole aggregate in European Tour history, although preferred lies were in operation for an event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and badly hit by rain.
Thongchai, who tied for 11th in Jakarta after returning a final-round 69, clinched his maiden European Tour victory at last year’s Malaysian Open and retained the title last month.
The unorthodox-swinging Thaworn, three strokes clear of the field when the rain-delayed third round was completed earlier in the day, finished well ahead of second-placed Raphael Jacquelin of France, who carded a 65.
Australia’s Adam Fraser was a further shot back in third, a hole-in-one at the par-three 17th helping him to a 62.
Best round of the day, though, came from seven-times European number one Colin Montgomerie who reeled off a record nine consecutive birdies on his way to a blistering 60.
Briton Montgomerie, who needed to win in Jakarta to be virtually certain of qualifying for next month’s US Masters with a top-50 world ranking, came agonizingly close to shooting the European Tour’s first 59.
However, the 41-year-old Scot left a 10-foot birdie putt inches short of the cup at the par-five ninth, his final hole.
“I had a golden opportunity,” Montgomerie told reporters after tying for fourth at 18-under with Frankie Minoza of the Philippines (66).
“I hit my sand wedge in there to about 10 foot but the grain grabbed the ball and it didn’t really roll the way the other putts had.
“It all comes down to the last hole but you forget about what happened midway through the round and I was going nowhere.
“I don’t know what I took on the 15th tee but I want more of it.”
Sorenstam Charges Five Strokes Clear at Women’s Major
In Mission Hills, California, World No. 1 Annika Sorenstam powered into a five-shot lead after producing a flawless six-under-par 66 in the third round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills on Saturday.
Aiming for a record-equalling fifth successive win on the LPGA Tour and her eighth victory in a major, the Swede finished on 11-under 205 and said she was probably playing the best golf of her career.
American Rosie Jones, 45, birdied the last for a 71 and was alone in second place on six-under 210. Another home player, Cristie Kerr (70), was tied for third on 212 with South Korean Mi-Hyun Kim (72). Twice former champion Sorenstam started the day tied for the lead with Jones but eased ahead with birdies at the second and third holes.
More birdies followed at the seventh and eighth and another two arrived at the 12th and 15th. Almost as importantly, the Swede made par-saving putts of around eight feet at the 13th, 16th and 17th.
“Conditions were perfect today and I’m now in a great position, but there’s still a way to go,” Sorenstam told reporters. “I’m still taking nothing for granted.
“I’m just hoping for another day like today. I played smart, was aggressive when I needed to be, and careful on other occasions.
“I made a few good clutch putts coming down the stretch and they were as important as the birdies.”
Sorenstam’s score was the best of the championship and one of only four under 70 in the third round. American Morgan Pressel, 16, had a 72 and was the best-placed amateur, in a tie for fifth place on one-under 215. Fifteen-year-old Hawaiian Michelle Wie suffered a double bogey at the 18th for a 73 and 217.
Westwood, Durant, Jones Share Lead at Rain-Hit Sawgrass
In Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Britain’s Lee Westwood and Americans Joe Durant and Steve Jones grabbed a share of the second-round lead at the rain-hit Players’ Championship before play was suspended due to darkness on Saturday.
With nearly half the field still on the course at the TPC at Sawgrass and more violent thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast for Sunday, golf’s unofficial fifth major appears headed for a Monday finish.
The second round will resume at 0730 local time on Sunday, with the third round beginning at 1030.
Tournament director Mark Russell said, however, that “all options” remained open, including a rare Tuesday finish for the $8 million event.
The last time a PGA Tour competition ended on a Tuesday was in 1980 at the Tucson Open. Westwood, who began the day one shot behind overnight leader Jones, experienced a rollercoaster start to his round but had a steady back nine on the way to a three-under 69 and a 10-under total of 134.
