An eagle three on the 17th hole proved the difference for Saranporn Langkulgasettrin yesterday as the Thai teen sensation closed with a one-under-par 71 to win the PTT Thailand LPGA Masters by one stroke for her sixth title of the year.
The 17-year-old finished on five-under 211 at the four-million-baht tournament, tri-sanctioned by the China, Australian and Thai LPGAs, at Bangkok's Panya Indra Golf Club.
The victory was worth 600,000 baht and follows two domestic titles and international wins in Wuhan, Zhuhai and Taiwan.
With a one-stroke lead going into the final hole, the Phuket native, winner of last week's Kenda Tires TLPGA Open in Taiwan, said she just wanted to close the deal.
"At the last hole, I am thinking 'I am not going to miss any shot' because I am really tired and don't want to go to a play-off," the teenager said.
In a Thai-dominated leaderboard, Budsabakorn Sukapan (68), Parinda Phokan (71) and Ploychompoo Wirairungruen (72) were joint runners-up.
Compatriots Renuka Suksukont (71) and Patcharajutar Kongkraphan (72) were equal fifth with Taiwan's Chen Yu-ju (73) at two shots back.
After starting the day two shots off the lead, Saranporn, the first-round leader, made a birdie on the first hole to get to five under before registering four bogeys and another birdie to make the turn at 38.
As the lead changed hands several times between Ploychompoo and Budsabakorn, Saranporn started her move up the leaderboard with a birdie at the 497-yard par-five 12th hole to get to three under.
Playing conservative golf in the hot and windy conditions, Saranporn would then par the next four holes before the penultimate hole, a 500-yard par-five.
"I talked to my dad [caddie] before the tee off. He said if I got eagle on this one there's going to be a big change today," she said.
"I hit to the fairway and for the second shot I used a seven-iron because it was downwind. The ball got on the green about 13 feet from the hole and from left to right line. My dad said if I made this I would really change that. He said 'let's do it, eagle!' and then I made it."
Saranporn said she struggled on the front nine as she didn't hit according to her plan.
"I missed a lot of hits. I put a lot pressure on myself at the first nine. At the back nine, I saw the scoreboard, I am far away from the leader. I feel more relaxed and focused on the game."
Overnight leader Chatprapa Siriprakob finished equal eighth after stumbling to a 76, while Zhang Yunjie (70) was the top Chinese mainland player in equal 13th, five shots off the winning score.