Chommapat scrapes home despite nervy finish
Despite closing with a disappointing one-over-par 73, Chommapat Pongthanarak still managed to capture her maiden Thai LPGA title in the sixth leg of the Bt1 million Singha-SAT Championship in Khon Kaen on Friday.
Starting the day with a five-shot lead, 22-year-old Chommapat seemed likely to cruise to victory early in the day as she fired two birdies to go to 13-under after just six holes.
However, her smooth run ended with three bogeys, including one at the last, as she signed off with a 10-under 206 at the Singha Park club. It was still just enough for her to finish one clear of teenager Kultida Pramphun.
“I got so excited,” said Chommapat, who comes from Kalasin province who won an All Thailand Golf Tour title at the same course in 2017.
“I had to sip water every hole and tried to walk slowly but I still couldn’t help feeling excited.
“Actually I was hoping to be under par on the day but the pin positions were tough for me. I had to putt past several slopes so I didn’t have many chances to make birdies.”
The maiden Thai LPGA winner went home Bt142,500 richer for her three days’ work and happy with her efforts.
“I’m super happy to have won my first title on tour. All the hard work finally paid off,” she said, adding that her goal was to produce better results on the Thai LPGA and China Tours.
Kultida also had an uneven round, trading three birdies with three bogeys after 13 holes before recovering with three birdies in the last four holes to card a three-under 69 and walked off with a runner-up cheque for Bt 96,285.
Last year’s Order of Merit winner Arpichaya Yubol ended up in a tie for third with Trichat Cheenglab, three off the pace, each taking home Bt56,528.
The seventh leg of the Thai LPGA championship is at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin from July 24-26.
