Kiradech Aphibarnrat wins British Open qualifying tournament in Thailand
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot a 9-under 63 Friday to win a 36-hole Asia regional qualifying tournament for this year's British Open.
Kiradech finished at 13-under 131 at the Amata Springs Country Club, where the top four players advanced to the July 18-21 tournament at Muirfield, the 142nd British Open.
Two-time Asia-Pacific amateur champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who shared the first-round lead, shot 69 Friday to finish second, four strokes behind. Daisuke Maruyama of Japan (65) and Wu Ashun of China (68) also qualified by finishing tied for third.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Teenage amateur Guan Tianlang of China, who won the Asia-Pacific amateur championship on the same course last year and has qualified for the U.S. Masters, shot 74 Friday to finish 16 strokes behind.