Lin gunning for Solaire title repeat

MANILA, Philippines — An upbeat Taiwanese Lin Wen-tang returns to the Solaire Open next week looking for a title repeat against some of the leading shotmakers on the Asian Tour and in the country.

Lin snapped a four-year title drought on the Asian Tour last year with a dramatic victory at the Solaire Open after playing out of the woods twice in the final round to beat Thai veteran Thammanoon Sriroj and Canadian Richard Lee by one shot at Wack Wack.

The memories are still fresh in his mind as he tries to successfully defend his title in the $300,000 Asian Tour event at The Country Club in Laguna from March 13 to 16.

“It’s great that the tournament is coming back again and I look forward to have a chance to defend my title,” said Lin, whose sixth Asian Tour victory made him the most successful Taiwanese in the region’s premier Tour.

Although a different challenge awaits the elite field at the wind-raked, challenging TCC layout, Lin is confident of his chances in the 72-hole championship sponsored by Solaire Resort & Casino for the second straight year.

The Taiwanese ace will be joined by a host of Asian Tour stars, including Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, Anirban Lahiri of India, Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, two-time Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and the talented American David Lipsky.