Chinese Taipei's Lu Wei-chih had a crucial birdie on the closing hole to thank after it gave him his second Asian Tour title at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) on Sunday.

Lu posted a final round three-under-par 69 for a four-day total of five-under-par 283 to deny compatriot Lu Wen-teh his sixth Tour win as well as the opportunity to become the second oldest winner in the Asian Tour history at 48 years and 225 days.

Wen-teh closed with a 73 to take second place on 284 while Mars Pucay of the Philippines signed off with a 74 to take third place.

Australia's Adam Groom posted a 72 to share fourth place with Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang and Kao Shang-hung on 287 at the US$300,000 full field Asian Tour event.

Starting the day five shots off the lead, Wei-chih made his move quickly with a flawless outward-nine that was highlighted by birdies on holes one, four and nine.

He reached the turn in 33 and continued the momentum with another birdie on the par-five 10th at the Linkou International Golf Club.

It then turned into a battle of youth verus experience as Wei-chih and Wen-teh went head-to-head right up till the 18th hole.

The contest was finally over when Wei-chih sank his decisive birdie from nine-feet to end a six-year title drought.

"The winning feeling is second to none and it's even sweeter when you win at home," said Wei-chih.

"That birdie on the last hole was exceptionally crucial. I knew that it was not over as Wen-teh still had a chance to force a play-off with two more holes to play. But as he could only manage pars, I'm happy that I won," added Wei-chih.

Wen-teh had to draw upon his vast years of experience to pit himself against Wei-chih who is 16 years his junior.

The 48-year-old veteran knew that he had to make a birdie to enter into a play-off with Wei-chih. But he conceded that it would be Wei-chih's week as he simply could not find that decisive birdie putt.

"Wei-chih is a deserving winner and I want to congratulate him. When the putts just couldn't drop for birdies on the last two holes, I knew that I'll have to wait for another week to have a shot at winning again," said Wen-teh.

Meanwhile Pucay started off encouragingly with two opening birdies. However he was set back to even-par after he carded two bogeys in three holes before the turn.

The Filipino posted another birdie on the 10th hole but began to struggle from the par-four 12th where he started a run of three successive bogeys which eventually put paid to his title ambitions.

"I was disappointed as I could have gone into the lead if not for those bogeys but if I've to look at the positives, it's that I'm beginning to find my form," said Pucay

"A third place finish is always nice and I would take it given how I've played all week," added Pucay.
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