Chan Shih-chang wins Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Asian Tour

Chan Shih-chang claimed the $1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters today, to finally win an Asian Tour event on home soil for the first time, but only after a titanic battle with India’s Rashid Khan.

The Chinese-Taipei star beat Khan on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, incredibly, after coming from three shots behind with five to play before making birdie three times on the par-four 18th.

Dubai based Shiv Kapur (Ind) shot a final round 71, to finish on five under par 283.

A brilliant front nine of four birdies and out in 32, saw Shiv move onto the fringe of the real action. A back nine of 39 with six pars and three bogeys saw the 40 year-old return a 71 scorecard.

Back nine

Shiv told Gulf News on completing his round, “At last a Top 10. It has been a while. The back nine played tricky today, you can see that in all the scores. My take for the week is very positive, it was just one poor swing on the 10th hole and a three putt on hole 14. It was a tale of two halves, but I am trending in the right direction. I am next in Delhi for one week, doing some work with my Golf League there and then one week in Delhi doing some stuff for the golf league there, and then I will be supporting my big mate Jeev Milkha Singh in the event on the PGTI Tour.”

Shiv won $17,000 this week, and moves upto 53rd on the season long Asian Tour Order of Merit with $72,031.72 from his 14 tournaments.

Fellow Dubain MG Keyser (RSA), representing Jumeirah Golf Estates, shot rounds of 74, 71, 72 and today’s 73 for a total of 290 to finish in tied 35th.

A brilliant nine foot birdie putt saw Chan secure the title, after Khan had missed his birdie attempt from 20 feet, while Chan holed a 21 foot putt for birdie on the first extra hole, before Khan made his from two feet. Chan sensationally forced the play-off when he holed a nine foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole as Khan agonisingly missed his birdie chance from six feet.

Both players carded four under par 68s to finish on 15 under and beat the previous best tournament total - set by Chinese-Taipei’s Tsai Chi-huang’s in 2002 - by one shot.

Six shots

Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman and Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand tied for third, six shots back after both carding 71’s.

Rahman, who last won on the Asian Tour at the Hero Indian Open in 2013, was thrilled with his best finish for some time.

The Asian Tour heads to the International Series - Morocco next from Royal Golf Dar Es Salam from November 3rd – 6th.