Australian Wade Ormsby has taken a giant stride towards a return to the lucrative LIV Golf League with a steely playoff victory at the Asian Tour's International Series Thailand.
Ormsby collected $US360,000 ($A540,000) after overcoming local hope Chonlatit Chuenboonngam on the first hole of sudden-death after a compelling finish at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin.
Ormsby triumphed after holing a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th while Chonlatit missed his birdie attempt from eight feet.
The 42-year-old Ormsby had trailed Chonlatit, the clubhouse leader on 20 under, by one shot with three holes to play but made a birdie on the 16th.
He had a chance to win on the last when he splashed out to 12 feet from a greenside bunker but missed his birdie attempt to set up extra time.
The former DP World Tour player closed with a seven-under-par 65 while little-known Chonlatit, a graduate from the Asian Development Tour (ADT) last year and playing the tournament of his life, shot a 64.
It's the fourth Asian Tour victory of Ormsby's career and the first since his win in the Hong Kong Open in 2020.
"I can't believe I am here," said Ormsby.
"I had a tough week down in New Zealand last week. I was so annoyed with myself as I knew I was playing well. I worked so hard with my coach Grant Field. I am so stoked."
Ormsby's success completed a golden weekend double for Field, who also boasts reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith in his stable.
On Sunday, Field also helped guide former Australian amateur champion Louis Dobbelaar to a breakthrough professional victory at the New Zealand PGA.
Ormsby started the day two behind the leaders: fellow Australian Zach Murray, Siddikur Rahman from Bangladesh, India's Chikkarangappa and Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond.
But while all four leaders quickly fell away, Ormsby raced up the leaderboard with birdies on two, four, five, six and nine to go out in five-under-par 31. He dropped his only shot of the day on 11 but bounced with birdies on 12, 13 and 16.
The victory in the third of 10 International Series events sent Ormsby rocketing from 73rd to second in the season-long standings.
The standings winner will earn their full playing card for the 2024 LIV circuit, with the 31 next-highest finishers to battle it out for three more spots.
"The Asian Tour and International Series are high up on my priority list. I'd love to get back on LIV," said Ormsby, who featured in the Saudi-backed league's debut season last year.
"I just have to try and manage it all. I just so happy I have won an International Series event especially here at Black Mountain, I love the place."
Fellow Australian Kevin Yuan was outright fifth at 18 under after closing with a 67, with Murray (71) sharing 12th two strokes further back.
