Kasidit grabs crown after Pavit stumbles
Kasidit Lepkurte claimed his first win on the All Thailand Golf Tour with a one-shot victory at the Singha Pattaya Open yesterday.
Trailing the leader by four shots after three rounds at par-70 Burapha Golf & Resort, Kasidit fired a final 66 with six birdies and two bogeys to secure his first ATGT victory on 11 under.
Kasidit, who also won on the Thai PGA Tour in Phetchaburi in May, received 450,000 baht and five world ranking points at the three-million-baht tournament, the 11th and penultimate event of the tour this year.
Two-time ATGT winner Pavit Tangkamolprasert bogeyed the last three holes en route to a 69 and shared second on 10 under with Raththee Sirithanakunsak (65) and Poonnavich Hirayama (67). They took home 196,000 baht each.
“I am really proud of my performance. I played solid golf the whole week. I never thought I can play such a good golf,” Kasidit said. “I played really well and the course was also in a good condition.”
The Prachin Buri native, who waited for a play-off after taking a clubhouse lead, was surprised to see Pavit bogey the final hole.
“I played with him in the first two rounds and he putted quite well.
“I never thought he would bogey the last hole. At the time, I was preparing for a play-off.”
With one tournament to go, Kwanchai Tannin, who finished tied 22nd, remains at the top of the list with 1,262,208 baht, followed by Itthipat Buranatanyarat (1,179,844 baht) and Sadom Kaewkanjana (1,015,850 baht).
The victory improved Kasidit’s money ranking to eighth with 718,950 baht after 10 events.