Kieran Pratt of Australia birdied the second play-off hole to win his first Asian Tour title at the Zaykabar Myanmar Open presented by Air Bagan.
Pratt, compatriot Adam Blyth and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat were tied on 15 under par after 72 holes.
Aphibarnrat, who closed with a 72, was the first to bow out after narrowly missing from 35 feet as Pratt and Blyth birdied the 18th hole at the Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club.
But it was Pratt who was the last man standing, making another birdie on the same hole as Blyth made par after his tee shot found water.
“Fantastic. It feels great to win the first event of the year. Obviously you want to get off to a fast start but to win is obviously better,” said Pratt, who closed with a four under par 68.
Pratt was five shots off the lead after the third round but made a superb charge highlighted by an eagle three on the 18th which he sank from 15 feet.
“I felt like I was a long way from the lead but walking up the 14, 15 and 16 holes, I kind of felt like the leaders were going nowhere. I told myself if I could get a couple of birdies on the way back, I could force a play-off and then I eagled the 18th hole,” said the 23 year old.
“I had to wait for Kiradech to par the 18th hole in the clubhouse and that was quite a nervous wait. It was pretty cool and unexpected to sneak into the play-off.”
Blyth overcame an eight shot deficit with a sensational round of 65 to join the play-off. This was his third runner-up finish on the Asian Tour since 2007.
“I was never expecting to have a chance to win. I’m disappointed that I had the opportunity to win and didn’t. But I’m still happy with the outcome and how I played. It is a great way to start the season,” said Blyth.
There was heartbreak for overnight leader Scott Hend of Australia, who held a comfortable two shot lead after the eighth hole but shot a quadruple bogey on nine, where his ball found water twice.
He finished in tied fourth place after a 74 with Thai rising star Arnond Vongvanij, who was making his Asian Tour debut.
