Amateur Kousuke Hamamoto upset European Tour star Nicolas Colsaerts to win the two-million-baht Singha Classic in Nakhon Nayok yesterday.
The pair were level on 14-under 270 after the final round at the par-71 Royal Hills Golf & Resort. However, The Thai-Japanese Hamamoto, who turned 16 a week ago, needed just a par to beat the two-time European Tour winner Colsaerts, who shot a bogey, at the first play-off hole.
While Hamamoto, who was in his third event on the tour, got the trophy, Colaserts of Belgium took home 290,000 baht.
Colsaerts was expected to land the title easily when he led on 14 under, two shots ahead of Hamamoto, with two holes to play. However, the amateur levelled with birdies on the last two holes to force a play-off.
"It was great experience for me," said Hamamoto, a Grade 10 student from Nakornpayap International School, Chiang Mai, adding that he had thought of a play-off even with two holes left to play.
"I am happy to win here and stand a chance to play on the tour for another two years.
"I need to talk to my family and my coach [about] what I have to do after this."
Trailing by four strokes after three rounds, Phachara Kongwatmai, 15, made a late charge posting a seven-under-par 64 with two eagles and five birdies against two bogeys. He came in third on 12-under 272 and received 171,000 baht.
Thammanoon Koonmark shot a 69 to finish fourth while amateur Sadom Kaewkanjana (71) was a stroke further down on 275. Wisut Artjanawat (69) and Sattaya Supuprami (69) finished joint sixth.
Chinnarat Phadungsil made seven birdies and one bogey for a 65. He was tied for eighth with Jazz Janewattananond (68), Namchok Tantipokhakul (71) and Tichakorn Sawddee (72), while veteran Thaworn Wiratchant (70) was joint 12th.