Thai golfer Chapchai Nirat shot a 32-under-par over 72 holes, in what is thought to be the world's lowest winning margin for relation to par, to claim the SAIL Open on Saturday. The 25-year-old Chapchai made a birdie on his final hole for a fourth-round 67 and a total of 256 on the par-72 Classic Golf Resort course to better the previous low mark of 31-under set by South Africa's Ernie Els on a par-73 course at Kapalua, Hawaii in 2003 while winning the US PGA Tour's Mercedes Benz Championships. Chapchai improved on the Asian Tour's previous best of 29-under, also set by Els, at the at the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Australia. Chapchai won the title with an 11-stroke margin over Richard Moir of Australia and Gaganjit Bhullar of India, who finished with four-round aggregates of 267. Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot was 13 strokes off the pace in a group of three with South Africa's Keith Horne and Mark Purser of Australia. Australias Chris Gaunt and Thailands Wisut Artjanawat were a stroke back tied for seventh on 270. Stricker, Watney share lead In Florida, Americans Steve Stricker and Nick Watney fired bogey-free four-under 67s to share the midway lead at the Tampa Bay Championship on Friday. Playing the back nine first at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Stricker birdied three of his final six holes to join Watney, who lost out by a shot to Phil Mickelson last week at Doral, on six-under 136. Lurking just one shot back was a pack of eight golfers, led by twice US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa who returned a three-under 68. Americans Charles Howell III and Joe Ogilvie had the joint best round of day signing for five-under 66s to join Goosen on 137. Masters champion Trevor Immelman of South African was one shot further adrift on 138 after carding a one-under 70. Overnight leader Jim Furyk slumped to seven-over 78. Ochoa shines In Mexico City, Loren Ochoa fired a seven-under-par 65 on Friday to equal the course record and take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the USLPGA Mastercard Classic. Ochoa has usually struggled on this course, and has yet to win this tournament in four attempts. Last year she tied for eighth as she was never able to recover from an first round 76. Ochoa had five birdies and an eagle on the 541-yard ninth hole. Ochoa held a two-stroke lead over South Korea's Na Yeon Choi. Brittany Lang, Yani Tseng and Pat Hurst shot 68s and are another stroke back. Sweden's Louise Friberg, the defending champion, is way back after a 9-over 81. Goya opens three-shot lead In Madeira, Argentine rookie Estanislao Goya opened up a three-shot lead after three rounds of the Madeira Islands Open on Saturday thanks to a two under par 69. The 20-year-old began the day a shot behind overnight leader Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland, but as his rivals slipped-up, he made his move to go to eight under for the tournament. Damien McGrane moved into second on five under after a second round 70. Carlos Rodiles of Spain is another shot further back on four under while Hoey endured a nightmare third round, carding a four over par 75 to be three-under for the competition.
