Tavatanakit holds off Valenzuela to clinch LPGA Thailand title
PATTAYA: Paty Tavatanakit needed a birdie at the 18th hole to hold off Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela by one stroke in a nail-biting finale to the LPGA Thailand on Sunday.
It was the second victory in consecutive weeks for former major champion Tavatanakit, who won the Saudi International on the Ladies European Tour seven days ago.
Tavatanakit finished on 21-under 267 ater a round of 67 to withstand a charge from the gutsy world number 91 Valenzuela, who fired six birdies on the back nine on her way to a nine-under par 63.
Tavatanakit coolly chipped her third shot at the par-five 18th to a few inches and burst into tears ater she tapped home the winning put at Siam Country Club, Pataya, ater a titanic struggle on the back nine.
“It was a lot of emotions,” admited Tavatanakit. South Korea’s Kim Sei-young and Choi Hyejin tied for third, two shots further adrit, at the $1.7 million tournament.
Valenzuela held the clubhouse lead Sunday ater she finished on 20-under 268 and Tavatanakit, who had started the day three strokes clear of the field, dropped her only shot of the round at the par-four 15th.
But the Thai world number 43 composed herself to birdie the 16th and 18th and lit her second career LPGA title ater the 2021 ANA Inspiration, one of five women’s majors.
VAN DRIEL DELIVERS MAIDEN EUROPEAN TOUR WIN IN KENYA: Darius van Driel won his maiden European Tour title on Sunday at the Kenya Open a week ater working as a delivery driver.
The Dutch Golfer lost his card last season but graduated again through the Tour’s qualifying school and won on his 112th appearance.
“It means a lot... it’s a dream come true,” said an emotional Van Driel who carded a final round 67 to finish two shots clear of England’s Joe Dean and Nacho Elvira of Spain.
Van Driel, who began the tournament with a 66, was in a four-way tie for the lead around the turn on Sunday before pulling clear with an eagle at the 10th.
“As a kid you dream on the puting green ‘this is for a win on the Challenge Tour’ or ‘this is for a win on the DP World Tour’,” The 34-year-old said.
“Now it’s finally there, it’s what you always dream of. I was calm, but once the last put went in I felt the emotions.
“I never thought it would hit that hard but it did.”
The milestone win moved Van Driel up to sixth on the Race to Dubai Rankings.