 |
BANGKOK (Feb 10, 2012):Thailand’s Nontaya Srisawang took possession of her new BMW 3-series black-coloured car and drove it around for a few minutes and in the final round of the Thailand Ladies Open, she drove well too, this time using her driver as she blazed the Lakewood Country Club course by posting eight birdies against one bogey for a course record of 7-under 65 to win by a solitary stroke from South Korean Lee Eun-kyoung.
Srisawang had a three-round total of 9-under 207. Her 65 was the lowest final round score ever on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Lee signed out with a 68 for a three-round total of 208 while her countrywoman Kim Su-yeon finished sole on third place with a score of 209. Kim had a final round score of 69.
Nontaya, 25, who hails from the northern city of Chiang Mai also ended a dry run since turning professional in 2005.
“There are many good things happening to my personal life and in my golfing activities. Mum and dad presented me with a new car yesterday. It’s still my money anyway as I support them financially and today I won this tournament and they are going to get some money too,” said Srisawang, who pocketed USD 22,500.
In the first two rounds, Srisawang used a local caddie but in the final round today she used her regular caddie as she had a feeling that she had a good chance to win.
“By using my regular caddie (Teh) I had an extra option on the greens for reading the lines and thus my win. But I played solid posting birdies on the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th and 15th holes but fumbled on the par-3 17th by dropping one stroke. The win today has boosted my confidence when I move over to Europe to play on the Ladies European Tour events,” she said.
Lee, a former benign tumour patient, however, was not disappointed at not ending her dry run too. “I’ve been playing well in tournaments but have yet to feel the joy of hoisting a Cup. I’m not giving up and I know my turn will come someday,” said the 25-year-old from Seoul who posted birdies on the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 15th holes while losing one on the 9th.
Her “Seoul-mate” Kim who finished third said she is also in search of a win. “I played well this week and hope to maintain my consistency,” she said.
For second round leader Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai, it was still a “win” for her despite observing a mourning period for a month since she lost her mother a week ago through brain cancer. She and compatriot Kongkrapan Patcharachutar finished tied for fourth place with identical totals of 210.
Tanaporn, who shot a final round of 71 said she could not give full concentration to her game despite wanting to win it for her mother. “It’s not the same without mum around. I guess I have to deal with it. I believe her spirit will live in me and guide me,” she said emotionally.
Leading final round scores
207:
Nontaya Srisawang (Tha) 71-71-65
208:
Lee Eun-kyoung 68-72-68
209:
Kim Su-yeon (Kor) 70-70-69
210:
Kongkapan Patcharachuta (Tha) 69-72-69; Kongkiatkrai Tanaporn (Tha) 69-70-71
212:
Park Haen-nim (Kor) 73-71-68; Hori Natsuka (Jpn) 72-71-69
213:
Loomboonruang Pinrath am (Tha) 71-73-69; Thidapa Suwannapura (Tha) 68-76-69; Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 72-70-71; Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 71-70-72
214:
Chichiro Ikeda (Phi) 68-74-72
215:
Yuko Fukuda (Jpn) 71-73-71; Onnarin Sattayabanphot 74-70-71; Iida Maria Priscilla (Bra) 71-71-73; Miho Mori (Jpn) 74-67-74
216:
Paksakul Pornpak (Tha) 74-75-67; Ardina Dottie (Phi) am 73-71-72; Hsieh Yu-Ling (Tpe) 69-73-74
