Kiradech Aphibarnrat – With his Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match-Play Victory
His third European Tour International Schedule victory in his 71st European Tour event.
• Moves to 1,037,066 points in The Race to Dubai.
• Could move into the top 65 of the Official World Golf Ranking from 92nd.
• His second European Tour International Schedule victory of the 2015 season, following the Shenzhen International.
Kiradeck Aphirbarnrat captures 2013 Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match-Play Championship. (Photo – www.euroepantour.com)
• Becomes the eighth multiple winner of the 2015 European Tour season. They are: Branden Grace (Alfred Dunhill Championship and Commercial Bank Qatar Masters), Anirban Lahiri (Maybank Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open), Andy Sullivan (South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni and Joburg Open), Rory McIlroy (Omega Dubai Desert Classic and WGC – Cadillac Match Play), George Coetzee (Tshwane Open and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open), Jordan Spieth (Masters Tournament and U.S. Open Championship), Danny Willett (Nedbank Golf Challenge and Omega European Masters) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Shenzhen International and Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play).
• The first time in his European Tour career he has won multiple European Tour titles in the same season.
• Becomes the first Thai player to win a European Tour event in Scotland and only the second player from Thailand to win a European Tour event on British soil, following Thongchai Jaidee at the 2012 ISPS Handa Wales Open.
• Follows Thongchai Jaidee (2009 Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open and 2009 Ballantine’s Championship) and becomes only the second Thai player to win twice in the same European Tour season.
Heart-beating moment for Kiradeck Aphibarnrat in capturing the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match-Play. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
• Becomes the fourth Asian player to record multiple European Tour victories in the same season. They are: Jeev Milkha Singh (2006), Thongchai Jaidee (2009), Anirban Lahiri (2015) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2015).
• Becomes the fifth Asian player to record three or more European Tour victories. They are: Thongchai Jaidee (six), Jeev Milkha Singh (four), Arjun Atwal (three), Y E Yang (three) and now Kiradech Aphibarnrat (three).
OTHER FACTS
• Becomes the 11th Thai victory in European Tour history.
• The second Thai victory of the 2015 season. They are: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Shenzhen International and Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play).
• Becomes the youngest Asian player to record their first three European Tour victories, aged 26 years and ten days. This beats the previous record of Arjun Atwal, who was 34 years and 355 days when the Indian won his third title, at the 2008 Maybank Malaysian Open.
• Continues with his stunning 2015 European Tour season. This victory is his fifth top five finish from his 17 events to date. Was first in the Shenzhen International and the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play, tied fourth in the True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain, tied fourth in the BMW International Open and fifth in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. (Moves alongside Bernd Wiesberger and David Howell with five, for the most top five finishes this season).
• Gains his fifth victory as a professional. All have come in different countries – Thailand, India, Malaysia, China and now Scotland, for his first professional win outside of Asia
