Amateur Sherman emerges winner in Thailand Ladies Open

Both the amateurs, playing in their first professional tournament on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, endured nervous moments as Thailand’s professional Pornanong Phatlum was closing on them. But sloppy putting by Pornanong, who plies her trade on the LPGA circuit, enabled Sherman to win her first professional tournament while Ornnicha and Pornanong finished joint second. 

Sherman finished the final round with a 4-under 68 for a threeround total of 3-under 213, one shot ahead of Ornnicha and Pornanong while another amateur Pauline Del Rosario of the Philippines finished on sole fourth spot. Rosario shot the best score of the final round with a 5-under 67. 

However, both Sherman and Ornnicha, as amateurs cannot receive the prize money. Pornanong took home the first prize of US$26,250, while South Africa’s Lee Anne Pace and Pavarisa Yoktuan of Thailand each received US$15,313 for finishing tied fifth along with yet another amateur from Taiwan, Cheng Su Chia. 

“Never mind the money, but the boost and the confidence I got from this tournament are worth more than the first prize money,” said Sherman, adding that it would be a lie if she said she was not tensed and nervous. 

The 17-year-old from Bueng Kan, northeast of Bangkok, said she hopes to play in more profes