EAGLE HAS LANDED FOR RED-HOT SARANPORN
Stunning shot wins title – just as dad requested
A BRILLIANT eagle on the 17th hole propelled Saranporn Langkulgasettrin to victory at the BT4 Million PTT Thai LPGA Masters at the Panya Ram Indra Golf Club yesterday, her sixth victory of the year.
Trailing the leader Chatprapa Siriprakob by two shots at the start of the day and still one shot off the pace heading to the 17th, the 17-year-old from Phuket holed the crucial 13-foot putt to surge into the lead before carding a final 71 for a five-under total of 211.
That was just enough for her to edge out Budsabakorn Sukapan, Parinda Phokan and Ploychompoo Wilairungreung by one stroke.
“I was struggling a little bit at the front nine. I missed a lot just because I put a lot of pressure on myself. But at the back nine I let go the pressure after I realised I was several shots behind the leaders. Then I started playing better,” said the in-form Saranporn, who won the top prize money of Bt600,000.
The sixth title made teenage sensation Saranporn the most successful Thai female this year.
Her other crowns were two All Thailand Tour titles in Phuket and Chiang Mai, two China LPGA titles in Wuhan and Zhuhai and one Taiwan LPGA title.
“At the 17th hole tee, my dad (Surat, also her caddie) said if I could make an eagle there,” she added.
“He said it would change the whole thing as I was two shots behind at that time. So I asked him to wish me luck … and I made that putt.”
Saranporn will next enter the China LPGA event in Xiamen next month. Yesterday’s win also earned her an invitation to play an Australian Tour event at the beginning of 2018.
Chiang-Rai based Budsabakorn shot the day’s best score of to finish joint runner-up at four under-par 212 and earn BT313,333 prize money.
“I felt pretty down after the first day so I had to ask for advice from Somsaksri Sor. Srisuwan (a teaching pro) and my putting got better from then on. To be honest I didn’t expect to finish this high after such a poor form in the first day,’’ said the 20-year-old.
This year’s Order of Merit winner hit her second straight 71 to share second place.
“To be honest I’m not happy with the way I played today as I hit two shots into the ponds. But I still found my way back to finish at second, which is not too be at all for Order of Merits winner,” said the Khon Kaen player.
