Daring Poom takes Nakhon Nayok Classic title
POOM SAKSANSIN, the baby-faced assassin, beat the in-form Tirawat Kaewsiribandit in a play-off on the third hole to lift his fourth career title after the final round of the Bt2 million Singha-SAT Nakhon Nayok Classic at the Watermill Golf and Gardens yesterday.
The 24-year-old from Chanthaburi, who looks years younger than his age, sank a birdie on the par-five 18th in the play-off to stop the resistance of Tirawat, who won on the All Thailand Tour in Chonburi two weeks ago. Both were tied at 17 under-par-267 in regulation.
“To be honest, I didn’t really expect to win. I was not hitting the irons well before I came here. I just felt good about my irons during the tournament,” said Poom, who was winning his first title on the Thailand PGA Tour. His previous wins were on the All Thailand Tour title in Chiang Rai in 2014, an ADT event in Malaysia in 2015, and an Asian Tour event in Indonesia last year.
“After the second hole, I took a daring decision to go for my shots. It was a matter of either winning or losing and I took the risk. I hate to say that but I was hoping that he would miss. And it happened,” said Poom, who won the winner’s prize money of Bt240,000.
Despite the defeat, Tirawat was more than happy with his recent form that helped him win one title and a runner-up position in two of his last three events.
“I teed off into the pond. I should not have hit the 3-wood. Poom really deserves the title. He was playing very well. I have done exceedingly well over the past three weeks and that was beyond my expectations,” said Tirawat, who took home Bt132,000.
