BANGKOK: Australia’s Scott Hend came from six-shots behind to win the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic by three strokes yesterday, carding a final-round eight-under-par 64.

Hend earned his third Asian Tour title at the Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai, taking home the winner’s check of $135,000 with his four-day total of 20-under-par 268.

South African newcomer Bryce Easton, playing in his first Asian Tour event, also shot a 64 to take second place while overnight leader Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand settled for third on 272 after hitting a poor 74.

China’s Hu Mu continued his good progress, finishing fourth with a 68, while Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who needed to win to have a chance of qualifying for the Masters Tournament in two weeks, settled tied 10th.

“To be honest, I didn’t think I had a chance to win,” Hend, 40, said according to a statement released by organizers.

“I was just looking for a solid top-five finish. Obviously it all fell together and I played quite well. Unfortunately for the other guys, they didn’t quite keep the pace going which was good for me,” he added.

It was a disappointing tournament for four-time major winner Ernie Els, who switched to his favored belly putter after three days with the short stick, and finished tied 14th in the $750,000 Asian Tour tournament.

But the British Open champion, who is the process of phasing out his belly putter owing to an impending ban on anchored putting, insisted he was in good shape for the upcoming Master’s tournament.

“I came here to get my swing under control, which I think it did. The short game is not too bad, everything is kind of there. It’s just the confidence search now,” said Els.

The South African star said he will use the belly putter at the Masters but will switch to the conventional stick leading up to the US Open in June.

Choi survives nervous wait to win in Jakarta

Meantime, South Korea’s Choi Ho-sung survived a nervous three-hour storm delay on his last hole before winning the Indonesia PGA Championship by two strokes yesterday.

The 40-year-old, who was one shot behind the overnight leader, returned to the Emeralda Golf Club course after the long wait and birdied the last for a round of five-under-par 67 and a 72-hole total of 19-under 269.

Juvic Pagunsan (66) of Philippines, Kaname Yokoo (70) of Japan and South Korean Song Young-han (68) finished on 17-under 271, tied for the second place.

“I can’t believe it,” the long-haired Choi said after clinching the $1 million tournament in Jakarta, co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour.

“I thought we might not be able to finish. I really didn’t want to have to do it all over again tomorrow.”

Excessive heat and humidity had forced Choi to pull out of this month’s Thailand Open after the first round but he adapted much better to the similar taxing conditions in Jakarta.

“I was better prepared,” he said. “This time I had enough towels and ice, and I used an umbrella around the course.”

Trailing overnight leader Yokoo by a shot, Choi grabbed the lead with an eagle on the opening hole but came under pressure after dropping a shot on the 15th.

But two successive birdies on the last two holes ensured he picked up the winner’s cheque of $180,000.

Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand finished with a four-under-par 68 for a share of the seventh place.