All smiles for Patty in Pattaya
ROARED ON BY HER ADORING fans, Patty Tavatanakit made a gutsy finalhole birdie to write her name into Honda LPGA Thailand folklore last Sunday (Feb 25).
Seven days after claiming her maiden Ladies European Tour title in Saudi Arabia, the 24-year-old eked out a dramatic one-stroke victory in the US$1.7 million (B61mn) LPGA Tour showcase at Siam Country Club in Pattaya.
Three shots clear of the field at the start of the final round, Patty closed with a five-under-par 67 over the Old Course to become only the second home winner in the Honda LPGA Thailand’s 17-year history.
“This is a dream come true, to win in my home country and in front of my parents,” said an emotional Patty, after posting a 72-hole total of 21-under 267 – one ahead of Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela, who soared into contention with a best-of-the-week 63.
For most of the day, Patty appeared to be in cruise control. However, the fastfinishing Valenzuela managed a birdie-four on 18 to draw level with Patty at the top of the leaderboard on 20-under, meaning the home favourite needed to conjure a birdie at the final hole to win.
After splitting the fairway with her drive, Patty struck a mid-iron to the elevated green which came up fractionally short of the putting surface, leaving an uphill chip which she executed perfectly, her ball coming to rest inches from the cup.
After tapping in for the winning birdie, Patty struggled to hold back the tears as her fellow Thai players rushed on to the green and doused her in water.
She recovered her composure sufficiently to speak eloquently at the prize-giving ceremony, thanking her team, friends, family and the galleries before being presented with a cheque for $255,000 to go with the $750,000 she collected last week.
Patty is the sixth player from Thailand to earn at least two LPGA Tour victories, following in the footsteps of Pajaree Anannarukarn, Atthaya Thitikul, Moriya Jutanugarn and Jasmine Suwannapura (all two wins) and Ariya Jutanugarn, whose 12 triumphs include the 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand.