Marcus Both holes Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open title

Sunday 22nd November 2009

Long wait over for Both

Australia's Marcus Both secured a one-stroke victory over Malaysia's Shaaban Hussin at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open.

Both began the final round six shots adrift of leader Craig Smith of Wales, but fired a closing five-under-par 67 to finish at nine under overall.

Shaaban needed a birdie at the last to force a play-off but could only finish his final round of 70 with a par to claim a career-high second at the Phokeethra Country Club.

Singapore's Mardan Mamat (67), Shiv Kapur of India (70) and Thailand's Annop Tangkamolprasert (74) finished a further shot behind, tied for third.

Overnight leader Smith closed with a disappointing 76 and was forced to settle for sixth alongside Will Yanagisawa (69) of the United States and Thailand's Pariya Junhasavasdikul (72).

Both said: "I was not thinking about winning and the only time I looked at the leaderboard was when I was walking up on the 16th hole. I thought I needed to shoot six under to get close but I guess I'm just fortunate that everything fell my way."

He started his charge with three birdies on the front nine before picking up three consecutive shots from 11, prior to dropping his only shot of the day at the 14th to open the door for Shaaban.

But Shaaban could only make par at the 18th after finding the fairway bunker and was left to rue an earlier double bogey at the ninth after finding water.

"I am really disappointed with my finish because I really gave it my all," Shaaban said.

"Even though I finished second, deep down inside, I feel that I am a winner. This is my best finish on the Asian Tour and I think if I can continue to push like I did this week, my maiden title will come soon enough."

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Asia Golf Online

Australia’s Marcus Both fired a stunning five-under par 67 to clinch the $300,000 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open title on Sunday, leaving two-round leader Craig Smith on tied sixth spot.

Both, who started the final round on the 10th spot ended the tournament with a 9-under aggregate 279, or merely a shot ahead of second placer Saaban Hussin at the Phokeethra Country Club.

Smith, who took the lead in the second and third rounds, struggled with six bogeys to end the final round with four-over par and a tournament total of six-under 282.