Liang seizes RSM Masters in playoff

CARMONA, Cavite—Chinese star Liang Wenchong blew a one-stroke overnight lead early, trailed by four going into his final nine holes and then needed two birdies on No. 18 yesterday to win the Resorts World Manila Masters in a playoff over Prom Meesawat of Thailand.

And after working so hard to win for just the third time on the Asian Tour, Liang, who is revered in China as Frankie Miñoza is in the Philippines, pledged to donate half of his $135,000 prize to the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” through the Red Cross.

The 35-year-old Liang first birdied the 18th to end regulation with a 3-under-par 69 and catch Prom on top at 272, before doing it again from an eagle situation on the fringe of the green in their second trip to the finishing hole of Manila Southwoods’ Masters layout here to claim his third Asian Tour title.

The burly Prom, winless on the Tour for the past seven years, was flawless in a 65 but made his first error when his second shot on the par-5 18th in the playoff found the bunker in a horrid lie.

“Seeing the disaster [brought by Yolanda on television], I’m so sorry that it happened,” Liang said through a female interpreter. “I hope my win leads to a better relationship between China and the Philippines as well.”

Canadian rookie Richard Lee and the Spaniard Carlos Pigem finished a stroke out of the playoff after firing a 64 and 65, respectively, even as Jazz Janewattanonond, the 17-year-old Thai phenom who was the first-round leader,   shot a 69 to tie for fifth with three others.

It was the best finish in a two-year pro career for Jazz, who opened up with a 64 and 69 to tie top Filipino Angelo Que for the 36-hole lead.

Nicholas Fung of Malaysia fashioned out a second straight 70 to finish in Jazz’s group at 274 together with Sutijet Kooratanapisan of Thailand (68) and Englishman Steve Lewton (67).

Charles Hong, the best-placed Filipino after the first round, rallied with a closing 65 and finished as the top Filipino by tying for ninth at 276.

Hong actually posted a 10-stroke turnaround after a 75 on Saturday.

Que couldn’t mount a final-day charge in the company of Prom. His closing 73 pulled him down into a joint 25th place finish at 280 along with three foreigners, including former Philippine Open winner Anthony Kang of the United States, who fired a 72.

Liang wrested control with a 67 on Saturday, but found himself four shots behind Prom after the front nine.

The Final scores (Filipino unless stated): 272—Liang W (CHN) 67-69-67-69, P. Meesawat (THA) 67-67-73-65;  273—R. Lee (CAN) 65-68-76-64, C. Pigem (ESP) 68-66-74-65; 274—Steve Lewton (ENG) 70-66-71-67, S. Kunatapisan (THA) 67-71-68-68, J. Janawettananond (THA) 64-69-72-69, N. Fung (MAS) 70-64-70-70, 276—C. Hong 66-70-75-65, M. Perera (SRI) 69-67-71-69, D. Lipsky (USA) 66-69-69-72; 277—Wang JH (KOR) 67-74-68-68; 278—C. Sainz Jr. (USA) 66-71-74-67, J. Randhawa (IND) 72-69-71-66, C. Rodgers (ENG) 68-66-75-69, T. Wiratchant (THA) 69-68-71-70, A. Da Silva (BRA) 68-67-72-71, Hung CY (TWN) 68-68-71-71, D. Lutterus (AUS) 68-70-69-71; 279—Q. Quek (SIN) 69-70-69-71, P. Junhasavasdikul (THA) 68-70-70-71, J. Colomo (ESP) 71-71-71-66, SSP Chowrasia (IND) 71-66-69-73, H. Rai (IND) 68-69-68-74; 280—C. Nirat (THA) 71-70-69-70, A. Kang (USA) 67-71-70-72, Mo JK (KOR) 71-68-69-72, A. Que 67-66-74-73, 281—K. Samooja (FIN) 67-69-74-71, R. Pagunsan 71-69-69-72, R. Hie (INA) 73-67-73-68, Lam CB (SIN) 67-70-71-73