PERTH, Australia — Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat won the World Super 6 Perth golf title, beating Australian James Nitties 2 and 1 in Sunday’s matchplay final.
Aphibarnrat worked his way through three rounds of strokeplay over the first three days and a series of six-hole knockout matches Sunday to reach the final.
The field was reduced to the top 65 players after 36 holes and 24 players after 54 holes. Defending champion Brett Rumsford and former world No. 1 Lee Westwood were among those who failed to qualify for the matchplay rounds.
Aphibarnrat beat Australian Ben Eccles 1 up and Japan’s Yusaku Miyazato to reach the quarterfinals, where he defeated American Sean Crocker 1 up. He then reached the final with a semifinal win over Australia’s Lucas Herbert thanks to a 90-meter extra "shootout" hole.
Nitties beat compatriot Nick Cullen at a "shootout" hole before knocking out Australians Dimitrios Papadatos and Callan O’Reilly 1 up and then defeating England’s Sam Horsfield 2 and 1 in the semifinals.
Horsfield beat Herbert 3 and 1 in the third-place match.
Nitties led early in the final, winning the first hole. Aphibarnrat drew level with a par at the third before picking up an eagle at the fourth and a birdie at the fifth to secure the fourth European Tour title of his career.
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