Thanyakorn Wins First Home Title, as Namchok Snatches 2016 Thai PGA No 1
Hometown boy Thanyakorn Khrongpha delighted the local supporters with a four stroke victory over Namchok Tantipokhakul who narrowly edged Udorn Duangdecha for the 2016 Thai PGA No 1 player after the final round of the BT 5 Million Singha SAT Championship in Khon Kaen on Sunday.
Two shots behind third round leader Namchok at the tee-off hole, the 26-year-old staged a brilliant back nine performance to sign off with a 66 and a total 20 under-par-268 under the windy condition at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
“Finally I won a home tournament after missing several times. A lot of fans here always come to watch and want me to win. So their wish was fulfilled,” said the 26-year-old who was just in his second event after bearing with a back injury for a month. He applied all sort of treatments including acupuncture and is now 90 per cent healthy.
After back-to-back bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes, he was chased closely by Namchok and Prom Meesawat by just one shot going to the back nine. He then generated five birdies to extend the lead. Thanks to a tip that the well-respected Prayad Marksaeng once gave him.
“He told me that human generally can be focused at a short period of time. So I was quite relaxed at the front nine before summoning all of efforts at the back,” he said.
The toast of the north eastern hub was rewarded with the winner’s prize money of Bt750,000 which became his second victory this year following win at the All Thailand Tour event at the Lamchabang International Golf Club in Chonburi in September.
Namchok must finish at lone second to surpass Udorn in the PGA money leader ranking. After 17 holes, he was tied with Prom, who had already done with his round earlier, at second with 15-under. A finishing birdie from the Chonburi-born then settled him at second with a 72 and a total 16 under-par-272, dashing Udorn’s hope of winning the Order of Merits on both the PGA and All Thailand Tours.
Namchok Tantipokhakul
“I’m quite stunned to become the Thai PGA Tour No 1 player. I came into this tournament not thinking about it at all. It’s my first time finishing the year as No 1 so I’m quite glad about it,” said Namchok. His runner up’s prize money of Bt450,000 saw him beat Udorn with a total gross of Bt974,722 against Bt959,646. Thanyakorn, playing only two local PGA events, landed at third with Bt809,652.
However Udorn, who finished at tied 16th after a total 282, still has the shot at the No 1 throne on the All Thailand Tour when he takes part in the ADT Boonchu Ruangkit Championship at the Rancho Charnvee Resorts & Country Club this Thursday. The Chiang Mai-born is currently at No 1 on the Tour Order of Merit with a total earning of Bt1,455,975 with Chapchai Nirat, winner of the previous ADT event in Hua Hin, following at second with Bt1,076,200.
