Pornanong pips Thidapa for Thai LPGA Masters title

Going into the final round a shot behind Thidapa, the former national No 1 shrugged off a slow start to fire three birdies in the last three holes to finish with a 70. A late birdie on the 17th hole saw Pornanong level with Thidapa with eight under par before a finishing birdie propelled her to the victory with a nine-under-par 207.

“I’m so happy to win this tournament which is my first time since joining the local LPGA this year,” said Pornanong who picked up the wining prize money of Bt260,000.

“I was trying to shoot low scores but it never happened until on the back nine. This is a good boost for me before the Canadian Open next week,” added Pornanong, who leaves for North America this morning for the US$2 Million CN Canadian Open, which starts on Thursday at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Alberta. 

Thidapa who traded two bogies against two birdies for a final round of 72 finished second with a total eight-under-par 208. Trailing three shots behind was Pavarisa Yoktuan who carded a 71 and a total 211.

 

Fisher shares lead

England’s Ross Fisher shot a six-under-par 64 to share the lead after the opening round of the PGA Wyndham Championship on Thursday (yesterday Bangkok), with defending champion Sergio Garcia one shot back.

Fisher, a member of Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup winning team, is tied for the lead with American Chris Stroud.

“My manager said, ‘You’ve got nothing to lose. Just go out there all guns blazing and see what happens’,” Fisher said. “I know what I’ve got to do, and I’ve just got to go enjoy it, and if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. ... I don’t want it to end here.”

Garcia began his title defence with a bogey-free round that included five birdies. The Spaniard is bidding to become the first repeat winner since Sam Snead in the 1950s.

He was joined in third place by former Masters champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa, Robert Garrigus, Australia’s Matt Jones, Andrew Svoboda, Morgan Hoffmann, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.

Australia’s Stuart Appleby carded a four-under 66 for a share of 11th place with Charles Howell, Aussie John Senden, Bryce Molder and Chris Kirk.

Fisher is a rookie on the USPGA Tour but he has four victories on the European circuit. He was in the day’s final threesome to start on the back nine, and he made his climb late.

Garcia’s birdie putts came from five, 13, two, 14 and three feet. On the par-five 15th he two-putted from 49 feet. 

“Obviously I made some good two putts from long range,” Garcia said. “I did hit the ball pretty nicely ... and holed a couple of nice putts.”