Gunn matches Asean tour record
Young Thai player shoots 63 to capture Kulim title in style and announce his return to form
A COURSE record nine-under 63 propelled Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul to a runaway and welcome victory at the Jimei Korea Kulim Championship in Kulim, Kedah yesterday.
Charoenkul looked invincible as he found his rhythm and returned with a bogey-free card of nine birdies to win by four strokes from compatriot Poom Saksansin, who had a 69, and Malaysian Ben Leong, who fired a last day 70, at the Kulim Golf & Country Resort.
The 23-year-old from Bangkok finished with a 20-under-268 for his fifth Asean PGA Tour victory, equalling countryman Wisut Artjanawat’s record for most wins on the decade-old circuit.
Former Order of Merit champion Kwanchai Tannin shot a six-under 66 to end up in fourth spot on 273 with the trio of Filipino Jhonnel Ababa (68), Deaeok Jeong of Korea (69) and Thailand’s Nattapong Putta (69), a shot further back in the RM610,000 (about US$150,000) tournament.
In what proved to be a tightlycontested first nine on an exciting final day, Charoenkul erased his three-shot overnight deficit with four birdies. He made the turn equal with Saksansin and Leong at the top of the leaderboard.
With his playing partners dropping shots, the Thai then stormed ahead with four successive birdies from the 12th before another at the 17th that sealed the victory.
“I didn’t expect a low score today but got off to a brilliant start with two birdies in three holes but to return with nine birdies in total, that’s pretty unbelievable,” said Charoenkul, who picked up a cheque for RM98,730 (about US$24,300).
“I was striking the ball much better than I had hoped this week. I was at the range after every round, trying to get use to my new swing regime and I think the hard work paid off.
“Poom and Ben left some birdies out there today but I had a stretch on the back nine when my focus level was really high and I was able to just pull away with a run of birdies,” he added.
Charoenkul enjoyed a good season in 2014 when he won three times on the Asean PGA Tour, en route to claiming the Order of Merit title.
But an injury setback in 2015 and indifferent form saw him endure a quiet period since his victory at the Singha Hua Hin Open last year July.
“After my spell on the sidelines, it’s good to be back and playing good, competitive golf once again.
“I have been in contention a number of times since but the victories have always slipped by me.
“I had hoped that a swing change would reinvigorate my career and I’m reaping the rewards a bit earlier than expected,” said Charoenkul.