Thailand's Sarit blitzes course to win China Open by six strokes

HONG KONG : Sarit Suwannarut won the Volvo China Open by six strokes at Shenzhen's Hidden Grace Golf Club on Sunday as the Thai blitzed the course with 10 birdies to overcome a three-shot overnight deficit to take the title ahead of Taichi Kho and Chen Guxin.

Sarit completed his final round in 64 strokes, eight-under par for the day, to overhaul third round leader Chen, who endured a difficult day with a one-over par round of 73 but still finished in a share for second with Kho.

"To be honest I just wanted to come here and have fun and find something this week because it's been a really tough year, I've missed a lot of cuts and I've not finished good at all," said Sarit.

"My putting this week was insane. I feel like I saw every line, I saw how to putt, saw everything."

Chen's lead evaporated quickly as Sarit birdied three of the first four holes to pull level with the 20-year-old and, with the Chinese golfer double-bogeying the seventh, the Thai steadily opened up a lead he never looked like relinquishing.

Kho, meanwhile, chipped in for an eagle two at the par-four 18th to put the perfect seal on a seven-under par round of 65 that moved him into second, with Chen sharing the runners-up spot thanks to birdies at the last two holes.

The China Open was making a return to the Asian Tour for the first time since 2019, a move that ensured foreign professionals were able to play in the tournament.

Stringent zero-COVID measures put in place by the Chinese government meant only domestic golfers were permitted to enter in 2020 and 2021 while the 2022 edition was cancelled as a result of the pandemic.