Lin Wen-tang seizes victory in Manila

Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang battled to a memorable victory at the Solaire Open in Manila on Sunday, his sixth Asian Tour title, after staging a comeback on the last two holes.

"I felt like I was at the Hong Kong Open once again," Lin said

MANILA, April 14, 2013 (AFP) - Lin, who trailed Thailand's Thammanoon Sriroj heading into the 17th hit his tee shot into the woods but calmly punched out with a nine iron (90 yards to the green) before sinking his second birdie of the day.

His second shot on 18 hit the branches but he recovered with a miraculous low punch shot to set up a 15 feet par putt, which he holed for the win with a one-over-par 73, defeating Thammanoon and Richard T. Lee of Canada by one shot.

Lee hit a 69 for his best Asian Tour result while Thammanoon's title hopes faded when he bogeyed 16 and 18 for a 73 at the inaugural $300,000 full field Asian Tour event.

Korea's Wang Jeung-hun (69) finished a further shot back while Elmer Salvador (74) settled as the best placed Filipino in fifth position.

Lin's dramatic feat on the last two holes mirrored his previous victory at the 2008 Hong Kong Open where he also needed to hit it over the trees to stay alive in a playoff with Rory McIlroy.

"I felt like I was at the Hong Kong Open once again! I think lady luck is really on my side to let me win this tournament. I told myself to stay focus and not think about anything else," said Lin, according to a press release.

"Thammanoon was in a tough position on 18 so I thought to myself if I bogeyed, I can at least still get into a playoff.

"I'm really very lucky to have made that winning putt. To me second or third place are the same. The only difference if you are the champion," added Lin, who totalled three-under-par 285 to win $54,000 and a watch.

Final scores at the Solaire Open 2013 at the par 72, 7,222-yard Wack Wack Golf and Country Club:

285 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 69-73-70-73.

286 - Richard T. Le (CAN) 72-71-74-69, Thammanoon Sriroj (THA) 73-69-71-73. 287 - Wang Jeung-hun (KOR) 72-76-70-69.

288 - Elmer Salvador (PHI) 74-69-71-74.

289 - Mars Pucay (PHI) 69-76-73-71, Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 73-72-72-72, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 73-71-72-73, Unho Park (AUS) 73-71-72-73.

290 - Hsu Mong-nan (TPE) 74-72-71-73, Dodge Kemmer (USA) 66-79-71-74, Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 68-75-71-76.