Narrow win for Wang at Ta Shee Open

TA SHEE, Taiwan (Agencies): Taiwan's Wang Ter-chang huge sigh of relief on the last said it all at the US$250,000 Ta Shee Open Championship.

The 35-year-old won the Omega Tour event by one stroke from American Eric Meeks and Australian Leith Wastle despite driving into the water on the 372-yard par-four last at Ta Shee Golf and County Club.

Wang, with a two shot lead over playing partner Meeks and Wastle playing the final hole, had to fight for the title after his three wood tee shot found a watery grave in the large lake that guards the entire right side of the hole.

he took a drop from the edge of the lake, hit his third with a seven iron short of the green, chipped up and was forced to hole from seven feet for victory.

"I have played the 18th terribly all week," said Wang, who finished a foot away from going into the water in round three.

"My tee shot was bad but my approach was even worse - I think that was my worst shot all week. I hit it fat and thought it was also going into the water. I was very nervous."

Wang carded a one-under-par 71 to take the first place check of $40,375 with a four round aggregate of six-under-par 282.

Meeks, who nearly made a 25 foot birdie on the last force a ply off, returned a 71, while Wastle ended with a 70.

"It's the first win of the year on the Omega Tour by a Taiwanese player so it's a great moment for me," said Wang.

Wang had started the final round sharing the lead with compatriot Tse Wen-chi and appeared to be coasting after leading the tournament on eight under by three strokes from Meeks with four to play.

He slipped up with bogies on 15 and 16 and birdied 17 before the drama on 18.

Taiwan's Hshieh Yu-shu and Chen Liang-hsi placed joint fourth under with rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.

The Omega Tour heads to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, next week for the $200,000 Volvo Masters to be played at Kelab Golf Sutan Abdul Aziz Shah from Nov. 13 to 16.

Selected results: 282 - Wang Ter-chang (Tpe) 71 70 70 71 283 - Leith Wastle (Aus) 71 74 68 70, Eric Meeks (USA) 69 71 72 71 284 - Hsieh Yu-shu (Tpe) 70 73 72 69, Chen Liang-hsi (Tpe) 71 71 72 70 285 - Mike Cunning (USA) 71 73 69 72 286 - Christian Pena ((USA) 75 73 70 68, Lin Weng-teng (Tpe) 73 72 70 71, Lin Chih-chen (Tpe) 70 71 73 72, Jeny Smith (USA) 70 72 72 72 287 - Geny Norquist (USA) 75 71 73 69, Lai Ying-juh (Tpe) 73 70 73 71 288 - Simon Yates (Sco) 72 74 75 67. Lu Wen-teh (Tpe) 75 73 72 68, Aaron Meeks (USA) 74 76 68 70, Lin Kang-chi (Tpe) 71 76 70 71, Yoshitaka Yamamoto (Jpn) 74 71 71 72, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 70 73 73, Eric Rustand (USA) 71 73 70 74