Aphibarnrat Captures Shenzhen International in Overtime


Kiradech Aphibarnrat eagled the par-5 17th to tie Li Hao-Tong in regulation, and then beat the local favorite on the first playoff hole with a birdie to win the inaugural Shenzhen International. The European Tour event took place at Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen, China.

Aphibarnrat began the final round with a two-stroke edge over American Peter Uihlein. But the 25-year-old Thai struggled Sunday, carding four bogeys and just two birdies.

It wasn't until the penultimate hole that Aphibarnrat pulled even with Li, who had posted five birdies through 14 holes to take the lead. After 72 holes the two players were tied at 12-under 276.

On the first extra hole, the par-4 18th, which he had almost birdied in regulation for the outright victory, Aphibarnrat sank a clutch birdie putt to secure his second European Tour title.

Afterward, Aphibarnrat, whose maiden win came in 2013 in Malaysia, told the tour's website: "Special thanks to my caddie, he was always pushing me. When we were two behind on the last two holes he said you have not lost, we have not signed the scorecard yet and he was completely right and I just got the job done.

"I had a chance to win in 72 holes but the putt in the playoff is the best putt I have ever made in my life . . . It's been like that for a while. I haven't been at the top of the leaderboard, but finally I had the chance to do it. It was tough to stay there."

Li said: "I made a lot of birdies again. But the Thai guy played so well. Congratulations for him."

England's Tommy Fleetwood had a 69 to finish in third a stroke out of the playoff, while in fourth were seven players, including Uihlein, who posted an even-par 72.

"It was my first tournament trying to do some new stuff with my swing," the Massachusetts native said. "I'll take it. It's one of those things that might take a little while under pressure to get used to."

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015028/leaderboard/index.html.