Relentless Sadom makes it six in Singapore
THAILAND’S SADOM KAEWkanjana secured the biggest title of his fledging career last Sunday (Jan 23) when he won the US$1.25 million (B41.3mn) SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club.
Sadom, the joint-overnight leader, fired a composed bogeyfree 69 on the Serapong Course to finish on 13 under and beat Japan’s
Yuto Katsuragawa and Joohyung Kim from Korea by three strokes.
Katsuragawa returned a 68 while Kim wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title after signing for 69. Sihwan Kim, who started the day sharing the lead, carded a 73 to take fourth place.
All four players booked their tickets to this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews as this week’s event is part of the Open Qualifying Series.
Sadom produced another inspired level of golf today that confirmed his status as one of hottest young golfers in the region and a star of the future.
The 23-year-old was never really
challenged on an extremely hot day. After Sihwan Kim made bogey on the first Sadom took the outright lead and did not look back.
Birdies on six and seven saw him move three ahead and he calmly parred his way home and enjoyed the comfort of a three-shot lead playing 18.
He picked up a cheque for US$225,000 and finished the year in second place on the Merit list, with US$378,972.
The victory continued Sadom’s remarkable recent run of form: in the final three months of last year, he won five times in Thailand, including the Thailand Open.
He’s won once before on the Asian Tour, at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open – which saw him become the fastest Qualifying School graduate to win on Tour as it was his first start after graduating.
“This is amazing, it wasn’t easy,” said Sadom, who was also bogey free on Saturday.
“It has taken a lot of hard work to get here, especially over the last two years. This is a great way to start the year. I hope it’s the start of a great year.”
The tournament’s star player, Paul Casey from England produced his best performance of the week by shooting 66 to tie for 16th, while Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur sensation Ratchanon Chantananuwat closed with a 71 to finish equal 34th.