Itthipat ends drought with Boonchu title
NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Itthipat Buranatanyarat rediscovered the winning feeling, firing a seven-under-par 64 in the final round to claim the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship by two shots yesterday. The 25-year-old Thai broke his threeyear title drought on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) by staying focused on a pressure-filled final day to clinch the four-million-baht event with his winning total of 26-under 258. American Johannes Veerman closed with an impressive eight-under 63 to share second place on a 260 total with England’s Steve Lewton, who ended his campaign with a 66 at the Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club. Starting the round with a one-shot deficit, Itthipat grabbed birdies on holes three, five and seven to make the turn in 32. He made another birdie on hole 10 before dropping his first shot of the day on hole 11 when he hit his tee shot into the water. “It made me a little nervous with everyone catching up. But I was still able to control my emotions and rely on my short game,” said Itthipat, who bounced back with four more birdies on his way home. “I made three birdies in a row from there which really gave me confidence going into the last hole.” Itthipat claimed his maiden ADT victory in 2015 in the Philippines and went on to win again the year after in Singapore. Veerman, the 2016 ADT Order of Merit winner, was proud of his performance, marking his card with one eagle, seven birdies and a bogey. “It was a great day today. I knew I had to put pressure on those guys. They are great players and the course is scorable, so to come out strong was great. “It’s nice that my last tournament of the year last season on the Asian Tour ended well, and I was able to carry that form into this year. I’m not putting any expectations on myself but it encourages me because my game is where I want it to be,” said the 26-yearold American. The leading seven players on the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2020 season.