KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 24 (UPI) -- Kiradech Aphibarnrat survived poor weather and a up-and-down final round on Sunday and won the Maybank Malaysian Open for his first European Tour victory.
Aphibarnrat was 1-under for the 16 holes he played Sunday and finished the tournament, shortened to 54 holes due to weather, at 13-under-par 203.
That was one stroke better than Edoardo Molinari, whose third round of 5-under 67 pulled him into second. Andres Hansen, with a final round of 66, was third at 11-under. Victor Dubuisson (70 in the third round) and Charl Schwartzel (71) tied for fourth at 10-under.
Rain caused play suspensions the first three days, leading organizers to cut the event, planned for 72 holes, to 54. Play was stopped for 2 hours Sunday because of lightning.
Aphibarnrat went birdie-bogey to open his third round before play was called Saturday when a large storm hit the region. He began play Sunday with a 3-foot birdie putt at the par-5 third hole and jumped well ahead of the field are dropping a 15-foot eagle putt at the 518-yard, par-5 fifth.
But he had a 3-putt bogey from 12 feet at the seventh and two-putted from 8 feet for bogey at 12 that cut into his lead. Aphibarnrat had a birdie at 14 but play was stopped for lightning after his first shot at 16. When he returned he stuck his approach close enough for a birdie. That allowed his lead to start up despite a final-hole bogey.
