Monday 3 August 2015 10:31, UK
Kiradech Aphibarnat survived a late fightback from Robert Karlsson to take a narrow victory in the final of the inaugural Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play.
The 26-year-old found himself three ahead with just four holes to play at Murcar Links Golf Club, but stuttered over the closing holes and needed to slide in a close-range birdie at the last to claim a second European Tour title of the season.
Aphibarnrat, who ended hopes of a home victory by knocking out Marc Warren in the last four, made gains on three of the first four holes and was gifted the sixth as Karlsson twice tangled with the heavy rough.
That took third seed Aphibarnrat three up against his 45-year-old opponent, who almost squandered a three-hole lead with six to play before edging past David Howell on the 20th hole of their semi-final.
Karlsson reduced the deficit with a birdie at the eighth after Aphibarnrat sprayed his tee-shot in to the bushes, before making a two-putt gain at the next after finding the green off the tee.
The Swede three-putted from long range on the 14th to fall three down with four to play, but was handed a lifeline when Aphibarnrat found water with his approach to the green and did not even attempt to take a penalty drop and hole his fourth shot.
A par was enough for Karlsson to win the 16th and a 10-foot birdie at the next left the pair back all square heading down the 18th, only for Aphibarnrat to slide hole from four feet for victory.
‘No excuses’
Aphibarnrat had earlier seen off Scotland’s Marc Warren, who failed to manage a single birdie and was five over par for the round on his way to a 3&2 defeat.
The No 2 seed needed on-course treatment for a back injury during his quarter-final win over Tyrrell Hatton, but admitted that wasn’t a factor in his exit.
"I played absolutely terrible today," Warren said. "I don't think I hit the middle of the club face once and did not really deserve to go any further with that sort of performance.”
The home favourite took an early lead against Howell in the third/fourth place play-off, but fell behind on three separate occasions across the back nine and was unable to card a three at the last to force the tie in to extra holes.
