Thongchai Jaidee has won the Ballantine’s Championship following a play-off after the tournament on Jeju Island’s Pinx Golf Club ended in a three-way tie.The Thai golfer trailed third round leader Robert-Jan Derksen by four shots coming into the final day.

But as the Dutchman fell away, Jaidee shot a two under par round of 70 to move into joint first alongside Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and local player Kang Sung-hoon on four under overall – forcing an extra hole at the par-4 18th. After both he and Kang placed their third shot close to the pin, the 39 year old had to wait as Jeju Island native Kang placed his birdie attempt from six feet just wide of the hole. He then stepped up and holed his own putt from five feet to win his second co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event of the year following his success at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open in March.

Jaidee had trailed Fernandez-Castaño then Kang by one shot for most of the fourth round. But, when the leading duo dropped shots at the 17th and 18th respectively, Jaidee held par throughout his final eight holes after earlier carding three birdies and a bogey to force the extra hole. He had to watch nervously, however, as both of his opponents had chances to pull further ahead after reaching the 18th green in three shots during their regular round.

Fernandez-Castaño trailed Derksen by five shots at the start of play this morning, but a round of three under 69 including four birdies and an eagle at the fourth, pushed the runner-up from last week’s Volvo China Open in Beijing to the top of the leaderboard.

Kang, a regular on the Korean Tour, moved up on early leaders Fernandez-Castaño and Pablo Martin after ten holes at four under after making a charge with two birdies and a tenth hole eagle in only his third event on The European Tour after featuring in China last week and at this same tournament last year.

While congratulations go to Jaidee, I must take this opportunity to congratulate Castano on another fine performance. He has now had three second place finishes in a row, loosing twice in playoffs. He has been this years star performer in my view and I hope he can get another deserved win under his belt soon. I tipped him at the beginning of this week at 22/1 and he almost came up trumps. For those who backed him though, you should nonetheless be pleased with an each-way place and an extra few bob in the pocket. For me, Castano is already shaping up as a potential Ryder Cup star….Monty take note!