Highlights of True Thailand Classic 2016 - Scott Hend wins the Title

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• published: 13 Mar 2016
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Scott Hend wins the True Thailand Classic despite stunning late comeback from Piya Swangarunporn during the final round Hend retained his composure down the stretch to atone for his disappointing final round at Black Mountain last year, when he again led after 54 holes only to close with a 72 and lose out by one shot to Andrew Dodt. The Australian was more aggressive this season, although it was clear he needed a round in the 60s after his overnight two-shot lead disappeared within two holes when Thomas Pieters got off to a blistering start in the penultimate group. The Belgian had stormed into contention with a pair of flawless 66s, and he continued his charge with a birdie at the first before his bunker escape at the long second found the bottom of the cup for a spectacular eagle. But Pieters finally dropped a shot at the third, although he got it straight back at the fourth as Hend made a confident start with birdies at the second and fourth to edge back into the lead. Hend was content to grind out the pars up to the turn, while another shot went for Pieters at the eighth and Peter Uihlein, playing in the final pair with Hend, stuttered to the turn in 36 to slip four shots off the pace. Meanwhile, Swangarunporn was making remarkable strides up the leaderboard, making four birdies in six holes on the outward half before he pitched in for an eagle-two at the 10th. The world No 798 added back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14, and a closing four at the par-five last hole capped a new course-record of 63 and set a testing target in the clubhouse at 17 under par. Hend got to that mark when he matched Pieters' birdie at the 10th, but the Australian blotted his card at the 12th just as Pieters got back to within a shot of the Australian with a birdie at the 13th. But Hend, unable to take advantage of the par-five, dug deep to birdie the 14th before he followed two pars with his fourth birdie of the week at the driveable 17th to reclaim a narrow advantage. The 43-year-old held his nerve to hit the green in two and give himself the luxury of three putts for the win, and he used them all as he clinched his second European Tour title and his first since the 2014 Hong Kong Open. Swangarunporn, who had begun the day six shots off the lead, settled for outright second and the best performance of his career, while Pieters looked a jaded figure as he parred the last five holes to finish third on 15 under. Uihlein birdied the final two holes to salvage a 70 and snatch outright fourth ahead of Pelle Edberg, who was two over for the round after six holes before recovering to post a 70 and earn a creditable top-five finish in his 200th European Tour appearance.