LIV Golf TOUR
Bangkok
Chacarra Shines at LIV Golf Bangkok
A new star is born! Golf star, that is. Spain’s Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra shone bright in the dull afternoon skies and held his nerve to score victory at the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok. Staged at Stonehill Golf Club, a brand-new championship layout in Thailand, Chacarra overcame America’s Patrick Reed by three shots. It was the 22-year-old’s maiden win as a professional golfer after leaving the amateur ranks in June to join LIV Golf. At just his fifth start as a professional, the star-in-the-making banks US$4 million in prizemoney for his individual triumph.
Chacarra took a five-shot lead into the final round and began strongly with a birdie at his first hole. Back-to-back bogeys at the 4th and 5th holes threatened to derail the youngest dream to bag his biggest trophy. The former world No. 2 ranked amateur rebounded with class a hole later and added another birdie to his card at the 6th hole. From there, Chacarra was unstoppable. And, with three unanswered birdies on the back nine, the Spaniard signed for a 3-under 69 on Sunday to reach 19-under over the 54 holes.
Reed produced an impressive 5-under 67 final round to get to 16-under and claim solo second place. The former Masters champion scored seven birdies and two bogeys in his pursuit of his best finish on the LIV Golf Tour. Reed finished third at LIV Invitational Portland in July.
England’s Richard Bland and Paul Casey took a share of third place with Korean-born Sihwan Kim. The trio finished at 15-under. Casey vaulted up the leaderboard after fired a stunning 7-under 65 for the equal best final round score. Kim and Bland each recorded 4-under 68. Bland missed a birdie putt at the final hole from three feet to join Reed in the runner up position.
Marc Leishman was the best-placed Australian. The Victorian enjoyed a steady performance finishing in a tie for 10th place at 11-under. It was his best result from his three LIV Golf starts.
The Fireballs Golf Club won the Team event at 42-under by five shots. Chacarra led the four-man squad, which included Sergio Garcia, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz. The group will split US$3 million in prizemoney.
The LIV Golf Tour moves to the Middle East for the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from October 14-16.
Final Scores
Bangkok
1. Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra -19
2. Patrick Reed -16
T3. Richard Bland -15
T3. Paul Casey -15
T3. Sihwan Kim -15
T6. James Piot -14
T6. Harold Varner III -14
T8. Charles Howell III -13
T8. Brooks Koepka -13
Australians
T10. Marc Leishman -11
T15. Matt Jones -9
T20. Jed Morgan -8
T27. Wade Ormsby -7
T41. Cam Smith -4
Photo credit: Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/LIV Golf via Getty Images
