Hend secures Thailand redemption

Australian Scott Hend has secured a one-shot victory at the True Thailand Classic a year after finishing runner-up in the event.

The 42-year-old held a two-shot lead heading into the final round at the Black Mountain Golf Club and he withstood a superb late challenge from home favourite Piya Swangarunporn to finish on 18-under-par.

The success was a far cry from 12 months ago, when Hend bogied his penultimate hole to miss out on victory, and the Queensland native admitted that he was pleased to have bounced back from that particular heartache.

He said: “To win this tournament, after last year’s disappointing finish and to get back into the winner’s circle in Europe and to stay in the winner’s circle in Asia, is extremely important to me and I’m very proud to win this title.”

Hend looked in danger of missing out on victory once again after Swangarunporn produced a course record score of 63 to set the club house lead at 17-under, but birdies at the 14th and the 17th were enough to see the Australian over the line.

Hend, whose only previous victory on the European Tour came at the Hong Kong Open in October 2014, could move into the world’s top 80 thanks to his victory, although that depends on how things pan out in the final round of the Valspar Championship on Sunday.

Tagged Asian Tour, Scott Hend, True Thai Classic