Don Bland, a US expatriate based in Thailand, shot a closing round of 75 to win the 3rd Angkor Amateur Open yesterday by a comfortable eight shots ahead of Cambodia’s Ly Hong and fellow Thai expat Noel Pittard at the Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap.

Having dictated the pace in Saturday’s first round with a 77, Bland was one shot ahead of Italy’s Marco Scopetta going into the final round. The American then extended his lead with some measured golf to win untroubled.

Phnom Penh resident Bruce McClaren turned up trumps in Division B with a one-shot lead over Jung Sang Chol of South Korea. Local amateur Tan Savun took the honours in Division C, pushing Commander Nair of India to second place.

The women’s event was clinched by Evangeline Apuhin of the Philipines, four shots ahead of Lesley Saunderson, a expat based in Phnom Penh.

In a nearest the pin competition, winners included Lewis Coyle, Nicola Donati, Park Sing Ho, Siem Reap Governor Sou Phirin and Commander Nair.

Angkor Golf Resort General Manager Adam Robertson was pleased with the turnout over the weekend. “A field of 65 golfers took to the fairways. We had participants from as many as eight countries making this a truly international event,” he told The Post yesterday.