Panuwat triumphs in Pd
Young Thai shooots last day 65 to clinch Port Dickson title by one shot
TH HAILAND’S Pan nuwat Muenlek picked up p his second Professio onal Golf of Malaysia a (PGM) Tour title in as man ny months when he clinch hed the Port Dicksonn Championship crown yesterday. The 21-year-old shot a flawles ss fourth and final round six-under 65 at Port Di ickson Golf & Countr ry Club to win by one stro oke from compakraphan triot Jak Premsiri igorn and Singapor re’s Johnson Poh . Panuw wat’s bogey-free effort left him on 14-under 270 and e arned him another RM35,0 000. The Ban ngkok lad, who triumphed d at the Darulaman n Championship last month h, was delighted with his vic ctory and said: “I am very ha appy again today. “I played d solid through the day and it w was just enough to hold off J Jakraphan and Johnson, wh ho also played well. . “It was no ot easy, but I managed to k keep my game steady. My pu utting was good today,” added d the player who started with a round of 70, before adding a 68 and 67, and then finished of ff in style – securing two bi irdies on the front nine and anoth her four down the homeward stretch, including the last two holes that effectively sealed the deal.
Twenty-four year-old Jakraphan, who also closed with 65, had three birdies on the front nine and four on the back nine – he too finished with a birdie at the 18th. However, a bogey at par-4 11th hole spoilt his chances.
Still, he was pleased with his visit to Port Dickson and said: “I hit the ball good this week and finished with a good round today, but it was just not enough to match Panuwat.”
Singaporean Poh had a last day 67 and like Jakraphan took home RM18,500 for joint second.
He made the turn at two-under, with a bogey at the 7th hole, and then managed another two birdies at the 14th and 16th holes.
Thirty-eight year-old Australian David Gleeson, who turned pro in 1999, carded a three-under 68 and was tied for fourth with Malaysia’s Gavin Green, who closed with an even-par 71 after coming into the last round with a one-stroke lead. They finished on 10-under 274.
Oscar Zetterwall shot the low round of the tournament – an eight-under 63. That outstanding performance saw the Swede climb up from 37th to joint sixth place. He was tied on nine-under 275 with Malaysian Nicholas Fung, who had a 70.