THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Top Thai masters tough conditions to win at last

Top Thai masters tough  conditions to win at last

Chonburi – Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s title drought is finally over after the Thai No 1 won the Bt4 Million ADT Thongchai Jaidee Foundation by three strokes at the Siam Country Club Waterside course on Sunday.

The 28-year-old from Bangkok shot four birdies against two bogeys to sign off with a two-under 70 and a total of 14 under-par-274. It is the second time he has won the tournament – his last triumph had also been also at ADT Thongchai Jaidee Foundation when its inaugural event was held in Hua Hin in 2015.
“I’m proud with the way I played and happy to get the job done,” said Kiradech, picked up Bt700,000 for his efforts.
“What a good effort from the rest of the field to put pressure on me. They almost got me on the 16th but I parred that hole to maintain the lead.
“I just stuck to my game plan. I focused on playing shot by shot, trying to hit the greens. When you are playing under pressure on this golf course, par is good enough.”


Winning on home soil was extra-special for the man who has bagged three European Tour level titles.
“Every win is important, especially when you have the whole family with you as I have had this week and thanks to all the fans for coming out and showing their support.”
 He was chased closely by fellow Thai Pannakorn Uthaipas and the American John Catlin.
The latter was breathing down his neck in the closing stages and was just one shot behind after 15 holes but his challenge unravelled on the 16th, where he needed three shots to get out of a bunker and went on to card a triple-bogey from which he never recovered.

Top Thai masters tough  conditions to win at last

Runner-up was Englishman William Harrold, who carded an unblemished 66 to finish on 11 under-par-277 and collect a cheque for Bt460,000.
Pannakorn paid heavily for carding a bogey at the last – his 71 left him joint third with a total 10 under-par-278 along with Catlin, who also fired a closing 71.
It wasn’t all bad news for Pannakorn, though -he has gone back to the top of the ADT order of Merit rankings and will hope to seal the deal with a good showing in the Boonchu event to be the 2017 No 1. 


Kiradech will on Monday afternoon fly to Indonesia to squeeze in another competition before ending his year with the Boonchu Rungkit Foundation in Nakhon Ratchasima during Christmas.

Harrold of England carded an unblemished 66 to land at lone second with  11 under-par-277 for the cheque of BT460,000.

Local Pannakorn, with and ending bogey for a 71, followed at joint third with a total 10 under-par-278 along with Catlin, also with a final 71.

Pannakorn regains the top of the ADT order of Merit rankings and needs a strong finish in the Boonchu event to be the 2017 No 1.

 

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