(Second from left) Kota Permai Golf and Country Resort executive director Tang Meng Loon, Professional Golf of Malaysia general manager Nik Mustapha together with champion Pichaikool, MST Golf executive chairman KP Low and Asian Tour tournament director Adnan Othman at the tournament conclusion.
IT TURNED out to be a good day to celebrate when birthday boy Tanapat Pichaikool won the Asian Development Tour (ADT) co-sanctioned Toyota Tour Championship at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Resort on Nov 23.
Tanapat played steady golf to card a two-under 70 enroute to a 17-under 271 aggregate, edging out close friend Sarut Vongchaisit by a stroke after a thrilling match play-styled final round.
Englishman Ben Jones finished solo third two strokes further adrift on 274.
The two Thais, who are childhood friends, started the day at 15 under but it was Sarut who gave early notice of his intentions when he knocked in a birdie on the par 5 first hole while Tanapat bogeyed, resulting in a two-shot swing.
Sarut then extended his lead to three shots when he birdied seventh.
Tanapart refused to give in and closed the gap to just one shot when he birdied 8 and 9. They were back on level terms again when Sarut bogeyed 11.
Runner-up Sarut Vongchaisit fought gamely till the last hole.
Tanapat took the lead for the first time when he birdied 12 and then went further ahead when his opponent bogeyed 13. It was a lead he would never relinquish.
Sarut fought hard and managed a birdie on the long par 3 17th to close the margin to just one stroke but it wasn’t enough as Tanapat held on to bag his fourth professional win.
It also brought him closer to overtaking Rahil Ganjee, the current leader on the ADT Order of Merit who failed to make the cut this week.
The ADT finale Aramco Invitational takes place in Saudi Arabia next week.
Tanapat felt overwhelmed by the occasion of not just winning his second ADT event but having his girlfriend caddy for him.
“It's been a tough day, a couple of tee shots were unconfident, and putting was not good today but I tried to just stay within myself, play boring golf and try to get myself in a position to have a chance to win,” he said.
“Down by three shots, birdies on eight and nine changed my momentum.
“That’s when I played steadily and held on to win. I feel great, now that I have a chance to win the Order of Merit.
“It's something that everyone dreams of but, next week will be a big week so I’ll just try to focus on next week and see what happens,” he added.
Runner-up Sarut said his putting let him down. “The story could have had a different ending had the putts dropped.
“I fought until the last hole and in the end, it was a fun round today. It was a great experience for me, going back and forth and having the lead for the first nine holes. This is something I will remember for a while.”
Sarut added he was looking forward to competing in the Aramco Invitational next week where a good finish would give him the opportunity to play the Asian Tour.
“It’s always a dream, playing on the Asian Tour. It would mean a lot.”
Edven Ying shines as top Malaysian performer at the tournament, finishing tied for eighth with a solid 11 under par.
Edven Ying emerged as the best Malaysian player when he carded a four-under 68 to finish in joint eighth place with an aggregate of 277.
Malaysia's Gavin Green and Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat shared the day’s low score of 66. Both finished joint 13th at nine under.
“I’m happy with how I managed my game this week,” said 24-year-old Ying.
“A bit disappointed with my approaches, missing a couple of greens here and there and not getting close enough to the pins. Thankfully my putting was great today.”
Leading final round scores:
271 Tanapat Pichaikool (THA) 67-67-67-70
272 Sarut Vongchaisit (THA) 70-65-66-71
274 Ben Jones (ENG) 66-70-70-68
276 Tawit Polthai (THA) 70-68-68-70, Matt Killen (ENG) 71-67-68-70, Ayoub Lguirati (MOR) 69-71-66-70, Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng (THA) 73-66-66-71
277 Edven Ying (MAS) 68-71-70-68, Aman Raj (IND) 71-71-67-68, Nirun Sae-ueng (THA) 69-66-73-69, Tirawat Kaewsribandit (THA) 68-68-70-71
278 Pukhraj Singh Gill (IND) 68-70-71-69
