Golf: New Zealander Lee wins Thailand Open

PHUKET - New Zealand's Richard Lee has picked up the biggest paycheck of his career with a sudden-death victory in the the US$500,000 ($696,280) Thailand Open.

The 31-year-old Lee carded a final round of two-under-par 70 on a blustery day at Blue Canyon Country Club to tie overnight joint leader Scott Barr on nine-under-par 279.

Lee went on to win the first sudden-death hole with a par as Barr bogeyed after a wayward drive.

The New Zealander said afterwards "it was nice to finally win an event", after eleven years of toiling away on the Asian and Australasian circuits.

Lee takes home the prestigious King's Cup plus a handsome purse of US$78,750.