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Noel Prentice

Unheralded Thai Pavit Tangkamolpraset withstood a furious late finish from India’s Anirban Lahiri to win the US$1.1 million Venetian Macao Open in a play-off on Sunday.
Paying homage to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died on Thursday, Pavit said it was an honour to win in memory of the beloved monarch.
“This trophy, I dedicate it and my life to the king. I bow to the king,” said Pavit. “All the Thai players are sad.
“The king is our inspiration.”
Pavit, 26, shot a flawless seven-under 64 for a 16-under-par total of 268, and was joined by Lahiri after the defending champion birdied the last seven holes to force a play-off.

Pavit Is our champion. #whereitsAT #VenetianMacaoOpen pic.twitter.com/HJHhP3FBvL
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) October 16, 2016

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But Lahiri’s fortunes were crushed when he laid up into a water hazard on the par-five 18th and took bogey, while Pavit completed the victory in style with a birdie.
“I think I am lucky because Anirban put his second shot into the water,” said Pavit. “I was very relaxed in the play-off. My mum and dad texted me and said I had nothing to lose.
“This victory means a lot because I have a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour now. It will give me a lot of confidence.”

Pavit, who turned professional when he was 17 and was the Asian Development Tour order of merit winner in 2014, had only one top 10 finish in 65 starts on the Asian Tour before coming to Macau.
At one stage, Lahiri was five shots behind Pavit and staring at his worst round in his past four years at the Macau Golf & Country Club, but the 29-year-old produced one of the best finishes seen on the Asian Tour.
“I had no idea Anirban was making a charge,” Pavit said. “There were no leaderboards and I didn’t see his score until the 18th. My caddie just told me to focus on my game.”

A picture tells a thousand word #VenetianMacaoOpen #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/s8oaOQev8O
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) October 16, 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Lahiri had to settle for his third runner-up finish in the past four years to go with a victory in 2014.
He was left to rue the absence of leaderboards with Pavit unaware he was hunting him down.
“That worked against me. I was trying to put pressure on him but I couldn’t because he didn’t know I had caught up with him,” Lahiri said.
“I’ve had to fight my swing all week and been trying to get some momentum going and get some rhythm.
“I rushed the drive on the last and didn’t even think about the hazard being there. It was unfortunate to finish like that.”

‘I bow to the king’: Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolpraset stuns Anirban Lahiri in play-off to win Macao Open

Indian ‘brothers’ Anirban Lahiri and Chikkarangappa S. set Macao Open pace heading into final round

India’s Anirban Lahiri set to turn up the heat at Macao Open

Surprise Macao Open leader Ian Poulter defends Ryder Cup structure despite Hazeltine defeat

Venetian Macao Open 2016

Thai Pavit Tangkamolpraset with the winner's trophy. Photo: Asian Tour

Thai Pavit Tangkamolpraset celebrates after winning the Venetian Macao Open.

Anirban Lahiri during the third round of the Venetian Macau Open. Photo: AFP

Macao golf Open action for sport - Defending champion Anirban Laihiri of India watches his shot during the second round of the Venetian Macao Open at the Macau Golf and Country Club on October 16. SCMP Pictures (UNDATED HANDOUT)

In this handout photo taken and released by the Asian Tour on October 15, 2016, Chikkarangappa S. of India plays a shot during the third round of the Venetian Macau Open 2016 at the Macao Golf and Country Club. / AFP PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / Arep KULAL / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / Arep Kulal" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES

Anirban Lahiri chips on to the green during his three-under 68 in the second round of the Venetian Macao Open. Photos: Asian Tour

In this handout photo taken and released by the Asian Tour on October 14, 2016, Sutijet Kooratanapisan of Thailand tees off during the second round of the Venetian Macau Open 2016 at the Macao Golf and Country Club. / AFP PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / AREP KULAL / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / Arep Kulal" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES

In this handout photo taken and released by the Asian Tour on October 14, 2016, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe hits a shot during the second round of the Venetian Macau Open 2016 at the Macao Golf and Country Club. / AFP PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / AREP KULAL / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / Arep Kulal" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES

In this handout photo taken and released by the Asian Tour on October 14, 2016, Chikkarangappa S. of India reacts during the second round of the Venetian Macau Open 2016 at the Macao Golf and Country Club. / AFP PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / AREP KULAL / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ASIAN TOUR / Arep Kulal" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES

Sport

Golf

China

Virtual unknown plays flawless final round of the US$1.1 million Asian Tour event and dedicates victory to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
