High five for Thongchai

High five for Thongchai

Thongchai Jaidee hopes his fifth finish at the Omega European Masters will sneak him into the International Team for the Presidents Cup.

Thongchai, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, signed off with a four-under-par 67 at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club for a 14-under-par 270 total, six shots behind winner Alexander Noren of Sweden.

"It was a good finish. I played good and started well on the front nine. I didn't make anything on the back nine and then made a good birdie on the last hole (after a bogey on 14)," said the Thai, who has won twice this season.

The former paratrooper kept up his title chase with a front nine 32, which left him three behind Noren at the stage, but the back nine at the stunning par-71 course proved to be his nemesis this week as he failed to make any headway on the leaderboard.

"The back nine is quite tough. I bogeyed 14 and couldn't make birdie on the par five 15 and I knew it was over. I played well. It was a good finish and I'm happy with that," he said.

Thongchai finished 16th on the International Team rankings but is counting on this week's good form to throw his name into the hat for the two wildcards which captain Greg Norman will name on Tuesday.

He finished tied 13th at the British Open where he was in contention on the final day and also played in all four rounds at the US PGA Championship last month.

"I have no idea," said Thongchai when asked if he thought Norman would consider him in the side to face the United States next month.

"I played well. I'm okay, if I don't get in. Maybe I will try again and get into the world's top-50 which is the main thing for me," added Thongchai, who is presently 51st in the world.

Filipino Angelo Que completed a memorable week with a tied seventh outing after a 70. "I'm actually happy with the way I played, four rounds under par is pretty good. Today, I didn't make many putts which I had hoped for. Everyone else played better which made me look I played bad but I didn't play bad," said Que.

The Filipino eagled the first but a bogey on the third and a double on the fourth derailed his title charge. He came back with five more birdies and three bogeys.

"I didn't hole the putts which I usually make. I could have finished higher but you can't have everything," said Que.

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant also finished strongly with a 67 for a 273 total, good for a share of 11th place which is his best outing of the season. The former Asian Tour number one carded seven birdies against three bogeys.

"I'm happy. I thought my way around the golf course well today and played solid. My putting was good on the back nine. I was hoping to make the cut this week, and improve my ranking on the Asian Tour. I feel like my game is coming back and I'm slowing regaining my confidence again. I'm looking forward to the remaining events for the year," he said.

Chapchai Nirat closed with a 72 to finish tied 49th in the US$2.8 million event co-sanctioned for the first time by the Asian Tour and European Tour.


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