This time she used her club as she blazed around the Lakewood Country Club with eight birdies against one bogey to post a course record of 7-under 65 and win by a solitary stroke from South Korean Lee Eun-kyoung.
Nontaya shot a three-round total of 9-under 207, but her 65 yesterday broke another record as the lowest final-day score on the Ladies Asian Tour. Lee signed off with a 68 for a three-round total of 208 while her compatriot Kim Su-yeon shot 69 for third place with a total of 209. Kim had a final round score of 69.
Nontaya, 25, from Chiang Mai, also ended a dry run that’s lasted since she turned professional in 2005.
“Good things are happening in my personal life and in my golf. Mum and dad presented me with a new car yesterday, and today I won this tournament and they are going to get some money too,” said Nontaya, who pocketed US$22,500.
For round two leader Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai, it was a victory to finish tied with Kongkapan Patcharachutar for fourth, after losing her mother a week ago to brain cancer. “ I believe her spirit will live in me and guide me,” said an emotional Tanaporn.