Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub clinched the Aramco Invitational Tournament in Saudi Arabia today, beating England’s William Harrold in a playoff at Rolling Hills Golf Club after the pair were tied for the lead after 72 holes.

The win for Denwit, who overcame a poor start to force himself back into contention in the final round, was also enough to clinch victory in the season-long Order of Merit table and be the first to claim an Asian Tour card for next season.

And the boosted prize money at the US$250,000 Asian Development Tour event meant that Harrold, who began the day in 21st place on the OOM list, was also successful in securing his card for next year, eventually finishing in fourth spot.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: (L-R) – William Harrold, Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, Naoki Sekito, Ervin Chang, Denwit Boriboonsub, Pattaraphol Khanthacha, Ho Yu-cheng, Charng-Tai Sudsom and Aaron Wilkin who received Asian Tour cards for the 2024 season. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

Australia’s Deyen Lawson, the OOM leader coming into the tournament, was forced to retire due to injury after the first round, but his accumulated prize money meant he hung on to second spot and will also be teeing it up on the Asian Tour next year.

Ho Yu-cheng of Chinese Taipei, winner of the PKNS Selangor Masters in early November, may have missed the cut in this event but the win in Malaysia and other results through the season were enough to to secure third place on the OOM list and lock in the prized Asian Tour card for 2024.

Australia’s Aaron Wilkin, who won the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam in August, was in contention throughout the tournament but could only manage a one under par 71 today. Nonetheless, it proved good enough for fifth place in the OOM table and a place on the Asian Tour for next year. He tied for fourth spot in the tournament today with Minhyeok Yang (67) of Korea.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: Dewit Boriboonsub of Thailand pictured on Saturday December 2, 2023 with the ADT Order of Merit trophy and the Aramco Invitational trophy after the Aramco Invitational Tournament. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

Former ADT OOM champion Naoki Sekito of Japan clinched sixth spot in the list having played 11 of the 12 ADT events this year, and Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom, who played every event, was also rewarded for his consistency with seventh place on the list and guaranteed starts on the Asian Tour for 2024.

Eighth on the OOM is India’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, followed by Thailand’s Pattaraphol Khanthacha, and rounding out the top ten finishers was Malaysia’s Ervin Chang, who played solidly all week and a fine third place in the tournament today was enough to secure the final sport on the OOM qualifiers list.

For Chang, his elevation to the top tier of Asian Golf for next year is testament to his determination and desire to improve.

Having turned professional in 2021 after winning an individual gold medal at the SEA Games, he has repaid the faith of the officials who picked him this year as the first recipient of the inaugural Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: William Harrold of England pictured on Saturday December 2, 2023 during Round Four of the Aramco Invitational Tournament. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

Vietnam’s Chi Quan Truong made his best finish on the ADT this year, his final round score of 70 was enough to secure him solo sixth spot and while it may have been his best single payout of the season, it was not enough to move him far enough up the table.

Thailand’s Sarun Sirithon shot a bogey-free seven under par round of 65 to lift himself up the leaderboard, overcoming a poor start to the tournament to force himself into contention on the final day. He finished in a tie for seventh place alongside Japan’s Shinichi Mizuno (68) and fellow Thais Charng-Tai (67) and Pattaraphol (69).

Also tied for the low score of the day with 65 were Thai compatriots Amarin Kraivixien, who finished on nine under par in 11th spot, and Puwit Anupansuebsai on eight under par in a tie for 18th.

Joining Amarin in 11th place were India’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (67), Berry Henson (69) of the USA, early tournament leader Harley Smith (70) of England, Sweden’s Calle Strandberg (70), Naoki Sekito (72) of Japan and Thailand’s Nopparat Panichphol (68).

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: (L-R) Caddie John Paul Scallon of Ireland celebrates an eagle shot made by William Harrold of England on Saturday December 2, 2023 during Round Four of the Aramco Invitational Tournament. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub took advantage of a late slip up by Malaysia’s Ervin Chang to seize the initiative in today’s Aramco Invitational Tournament, posting a six under par 66 to grab a share of the lead.

Chang (68), who started the day leading alongside English amateur Harley Smith, had been enjoying a comfortable advantage over the field until the 16th hole, where an unfortunate double bogey slowed his charge.

“Overall I was pretty happy with the ball striking today,“ said Chang after his round, “but I definitely need to work on the putting a little bit more.

“I made a double on 16 and that kind of set me back a little bit. That was very frustrating and I wasn’t able to birdie the par five 17 but then I had a good birdie on 18 which gives me a little bit more confidence and some momentum going into the final round.”.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: Ervin Chang of Malaysia pictured on Friday December 1, 2023 during Round Three of the Aramco Invitational Tournament. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

Australia’s Aaron Wilkin (68), who won the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam in August, is another of the year’s tournament winners eyeing up the chance to win an Asian Tour card for next year.

“Today wasn’t too bad,” he said after turning in his card. “A little bit of a shaky start but mostly positive. I’m optimistic I can have a good round tomorrow.

“There’s a lot on the line,” he added, “but I’m just going to go out there, try to freewheel it and hopefully get it done.”

Following the conclusion of the US$250,000 season-ending Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournament, the top ten finishers in the ADT Order of Merit will earn the right to tee it up on the lucrative Asian Tour circuit in 2024.

Deyen Lawson of Australia, the current OOM leader with season-long winnings of US$50,381, was forced to withdraw through injury after the first round this week, and with first prize being worth US$45,000, the field is wide open for anyone who posts a good finish.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: Aaron Wilkin of Australia pictured on Friday December 1, 2023 during Round Three of the Aramco Invitational Tournament. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

As Denwit explained after his round, everyone will have their eyes on the prize tomorrow.

“A win for me could be a life-changing experience, being on the Asian Tour next year, and (hopefully) as the Order of Merit winner.”

England’s William Harrold posted the low score of the day with an eight under par 66 to grab third place, only a single dropped shott marred an otherwise perfect round.

Chi Quan Truong (67) of Vietnam joined Japan’s Naoki Sekito (67) in fifth spot on nine under par, with the Japanese golfer rescuing an otherwise difficult finish to his round with an eagle on the par four 18th.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: William Harrold of England pictured on Friday December 1, 2023 during Round Three of the Aramco Invitational Tournament. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

Teenage Essex golfer Smith, who set the early pace to the tournament with a blistering seven under par in Round One, was unable to sustain his momentum and slipped to seventh place with a disappointing 73.

He ended the day sharing the place on seven under par with Sweden’s Calle Strandberg (67), Minhyeok Yang (68) of Korea, England’s Luke Joy (65) and Pattaraphol Khanthacha (71) of Thailand.

Asian Tour stalwart Berry Henson (69) of the USA, India’s Khalin Joshi (66) and Shinichi Mizuno of Japan round out the top 15 on six under par.

Play for the fourth and final round begins tomorrow at 8am local time, with the final group teeing off at 9.39am.