31/08/2008 10:55 PM
Australia's Scott Hend carded a second successive six-under-par 66 to claim his first Asian Tour title in the Indonesia President Invitational on Sunday.
Hend, who began the day five strokes behind overnight leaders Iain Steel of Malaysia and Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang in fourth place, shot an eagle, five birdies and a bogey at Damai Indah Golf and Country Club to finish on 16-under 272 overall and triumph by three shots.
Lin was second despite falling to 13 under after a two-over 74, while the Philippines' Mars Pucay (69), Thailand's Udorn Duangdecha and American Anthony Kang (73) finished in a three-way tie for third place.
Steel was sixth after a four-over 76.
Hend's most recent victory came in the Toyota Southern Classic in Australia in 2003, with his previous triumphs coming on the Australian Tour and in the Victoria Open in Canada.
Hend, from Brisbane, opened with successive birdies on the first and second before a further birdie on the par-five sixth.
A bogey-five on the ninth put Hend two under at the turn, but that was his only dropped shot of the day as he added a birdie on the 11th, an eagle on the par-five 13th and a birdie on the par-five 17th to seal the triumph.
Lin was level at the turn after two birdies and two bogeys, but a birdie on the 11th was offset by a double-bogey five on the par-five 15th and a bogey six on the 17th.
Hend, who played on the United States PGA Tour in 2004 and 2005 but turned his focus to Asia in 2006, finished runner-up in the Pakistan Open and the Volvo China Open in 2007.
He was second in the Sail Open in India earlier this year and was thrilled to finally clinch his maiden Asian Tour title in Jakarta.
"I had a few runner-up finishes which is nice financially but there is nothing like winning a tournament - it is truly satisfying," said Hend.
"I was thinking that if I shot a six under today, I'll be happy no matter what the outcome, even if I had not won."
"I told myself that I had to play solid and everything came together."
"I got ahead of myself on a few holes but I kept a steady momentum and I'm very happy with my finish."