TAIWAN’S Chan Shih-chang claimed the inaugural Royal’s Cup golf tournament in Thailand today, capping off a stellar run of four days as clubhouse leader.

His last round four-under par 68, to finish 23 under, for the tournament was enough to fend off Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and America’s Sihwan Kim, who came equal second and were three shots behind overall.

Sadom carded 68, while Sihwan fired a 70 today.

Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong and Korea’s Kim Bi-o were three shots behind in a tie for fourth.

Chan, 35, scored a hole-in-one on day two of the competition and echoed the same brilliant form displayed in Thailand last year, when he sealed a gripping last-hole victory in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship.

“That ace kept me going as well. I was able to play my best game out there this week,” he said, acknowledging he has not had a great start to the year, with disappointing runs in Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Homegrown hero Sadom was a tournament hot favourite – fresh from winning the Singapore Open last month – but noted he felt overwhelmed by high expectations.

“Today it was a tough course for me, it was windy and I felt a lot of pressure. I feel like when I play in my home country there is a lot of pressure.”

The Royal’s Cup at the Grand Prix Golf Club in Kanchanaburi is the first full Asian Tour event in Thailand this year and had a prize pool of US$400,000 (RM1.6 million).

Players will now turn their attention to the US$1.5 million Saudi Arabian-funded International Series at the Black Mountain Golf Club at Hua Hin, Thailand, which tees off on Thursday. – AFP, February 27, 2022.