The 51-year-old Thai made it back-to-back Staysure Tour wins when he out-lasted American Clark Dennis and Australia Peter Fowler in extra time that went so long they had to switch on the floodlights at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club.

“I have never played under floodlights before so that was a new challenge for me,” said the former Asian Tour player who backed up his victory at the season-ending MBC Championship in Mauritius last December.

“Hopefully, I can kick on from here and really concentrate on the year ahead. The pin positions were really difficult today compared to the first two days so it was a real challenge out there. I had to be patient in the playoff as we were all hitting good shots every time we played the hole so I needed to keep my focus and wait for my chance. I just knew I had to get the win.

“I look forward to returning to Sharjah next year to defend my title. This is a great start to my season on the 2018 Staysure Tour.”

The team at SGSC also hope to cash in on the success of the second staging of the Staysure Tour event. Staysure Tour CEO Savid MacLaren led the praise for the $425,000 tournament that remains the only main tour event to be played on a nine-hole course. In a new development, Kiwi superintendent Marty Brown cut two different pins for the final day, offering another challenge on the Peter Harradine-designed layout presented in pristine condition.

“I didn’t think it was possible to be as excited about this year’s Sharjah Senior Golf Masters as last year but I actually was,” said MacLaren. “The reaction of everybody involved in the event, and in particularly the players, makes you realise that we’ve done something well.”

Said Staysure chairman Ryan Howsam: “What a brilliant week we have had here at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club. The condition of the course was absolutely fantastic and the players that played on it were superb.

“It was great watching the last group today; they hardly made any mistakes so it was great to see such a spectacle. I’m over the aged of 50 now so from my point of view I would love to be able to do what these players can. From a business point of view, our main focus is on the over 50s market and this is obviously an over 50s Tour so the connection between the two just makes perfect sense. This is such a great launching platform for Staysure.”

The next Staysure Tour stop is not until May but it is literally major, the KitchenAid U.S. Senior PGA Championship in Michigan from May 24-27. The next European stop is the Shipco Masters in Denmark from June 1-3.

The post Watch Wiratchant survive a four-hole playoff to claim the Staysure Tour season-opener at SGSC appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Thai edged reigning Staysure Tour order of merit champion Clark Dennis with a tap-in par on Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club’s 18th hole at the fourth time of asking after Australian Peter Fowler had been eliminated after a bogey on the first hole of the playoff which finished under lights.

It was Wiratchant’s second successive European Seniors win after he captured the season-ending MBC Tour Championship Mauritius last December.

WINNER: Thaworn Wiratchant wins the 2018 Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq with par on the fourth extra hole #SharjahSGM pic.twitter.com/w5qUYCKoW2

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 10, 2018

Dennis and Wiratchant started the final round at -11 with a shot buffer over Fowler but could only manage 71s to the Australian’s 69.

Fowler bogeyed the penultimate hole to give up a lead he held for much of the final round and then cruelly watched a birdie attempt on the final hole for victory lip out. Dennis, meanwhile, holed a eight-footer for birdie on the 54th hole to make it a three-way playoff at -12.

Fowler’s heartache was complete as he then three-putted from 45-feet in the first hole of sudden death to be eliminated as Wiratchant coolly saved par from the left-hand trap courtesy of a nerve jangling 10-footer and Dennis two-putted for his par from the back fringe.

On their second trip down the 18th hole in overtime, Wiratchant had the best chance but a similar length putt to the one he holed at the first time of asking slide by and the par went back down the 18th for a third time, this time with the help of SGSC’s floodlights.

They traded pars again to extend the playoff to a fourth hole before Wiratchant’s par got the job done.

The post Wiratchant wins Sharjah Senior Golf Masters in dramatic playoff appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Clark Dennis has company atop the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters leaderboard in Thaworn Wiratchant while decorated Australian Peter Fowler went crazy low on Friday to cling onto their coattails heading into the final round of the Staysure Tour season-opener.

The trio are grouped together in the final threesome of what shapes as an absorbing Saturday shootout at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club. They’re off at 12.55pm with South African James Kingston, at -7 after second round 68, looking the only other player capable of challenging the frontrunners at the $425,000 event.

Wiratchant made the decisive early move on moving day, a bogey-free 65 allowing the Thai to set the early clubhouse target at -11.

Reigning Staysure Tour order of merit champion and overnight leader Dennis joined him after  overcoming a bogey start to sign for a 68 while Fowler eagled the par-5 15th (with a chip-in) for the second successive day en-route to an eight-under 64, the new SGSC course record.

Fowler is on -9 and must be ruing his double-bogey finish in an opening 71. Still, the 58-year-old has the pedigree – five Staysure Tour titles – to ensure Dennis and Wiratchant will sweat on their lead.

“I was a long way behind after some good scores this morning, and Clark was pretty hot as well. I had to put something good together today, which I did, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” said Fowler.

Fowler on fire.

The Australian sank this birdie putt for an eight under par round of 64 and the new course record at @SharjahGolf #SharjahSGM. He’s just two strokes behind the leaders on nine under par. pic.twitter.com/tIBXi5FZhH

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

Texan Dennis, 52, won twice last season but Wiratchant won more recently at the season ending MBC Tour Championship in Mauritius last December.

“My round today was great because I seemed to have control with all my shots,” said Wiranchat afterwards.

Clark Dennis.
Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images.

“I love it here in Sharjah because the weather is hot like Thailand and the course is in exceptional condition. It was easier today because there was less wind and the pin position was better. I came here with no expectations so to be joint-leader going into the final round, I’m very happy.”

Wiratchant equals the course record with this birdie on the last, signing for a seven under par 65 and an 11 under par total #SharjahSGM.

The Thai leads by four strokes. pic.twitter.com/QWdp1j817x

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

Dennis rattled off three birdies in his next five holes after the bogey start and then traded a bogey on the 9th with three further birdies.

“I played some good golf again today but it was definitely more of a struggle than yesterday,” said the former PGA Tour player.

“I didn’t quite have the ‘A’ game but I still managed to hit some good shots on the back nine which gave me a couple of birdies so I’m really glad that I got to 11 under par heading into the final day. Tomorrow is a new day and everyone is going to be looking for those birdies.

“I don’t think that anyone will be trying to protect anything so it should be a low scoring day. Hopefully I can come out tomorrow and execute my game plan and make a few putts.”

Spaniard Martin Miguel Angel and Englishman Philip Golding, meanwhile, complete the top five on six under par after rounds of 70 of 68.

Amateur players Steven Kelbrick and Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club’s Amir Al Naimi carded rounds of 76 and 78 respectively as they once again battled with some of the biggest names of the past. Dubai-based Brit Kelbrick goes into the final round on seven over par with Iranii Al Naimi on eight over.

Incredible diversity on the Staysure Tour. Eight players from seven countries representing six continents inside the top seven on the #SharjahSGM leaderboard.

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— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

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