Yangon, Myanmar: Asian Tour rookie Todd Sinnott secured a convincing three-shot victory at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open in only his second tournament in Asia.
The 25-year-old Australian fired a flawless six-under-par 65 for a winning total of 14-under 270 at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club to defeat Carlos Pigem of Spain, who closed with a 68 at the US$750,000 event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
After hitting six balls into the water in the opening two rounds, Sinnott had to fight tooth-and-nail to make the half-way cut. He moved from 40th position to tied fourth after the third day and cruised to victory thanks to six birdies in the final round.
Sinnott was three-under after 12 holes but it was a pair of birdies on 13 and 14 which put him in contention. As his challengers slipped down the leaderboard, he had a comfortable three-shot cushion heading into the last hole where he sealed the deal with a birdie.
Pigem, who won his first Asian Tour title last year, produced three straight birdies after the ninth hole to charge into contention but slipped back when he double-bogeyed the 12th hole. A birdie on the last handed him his best finish since winning in Chinese Taipei in July, 2016.
Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines birdied the closing two holes to finish with a 69 after dropping a double-bogey on the third hole. He ended in tied third place alongside Koreans KT Kim (65) and Im Sung-jae (71) on 274.
Overnight leader Yusaku Miyazato of Japan stumbled to a disappointing 73 as he finished in a share of sixth place.