Teenage sensation Phachara Khongwatmai edged veteran Chawalit Plaphol by a stroke to win his second Thai PGA Tour title at the Chang-Nakhon Nayok Championship yesterday.
Phachara Khongwatmai poses with the trophy.
The 17-year-old from Hat Yai carded a five-under-par 67 in the final round for a winning total of 12-under 276 at Khao Cha-ngok Golf and Country Club to claim his sixth professional title.
Phachara, who took home 250,000 baht, finished one stroke ahead of Chawalit, who recorded his second straight 68 yesterday to pocket 150,000 baht.
Somchai Pongpaew (67) and Wisut Artjanawat (72) were tied for third on 279. They received 86,000 baht each.
Overnight leader Suprawee Phatham ended up tied for seventh on 281 following his soaring 75 on the last day.
“I am happy to get a win on the Tour after a lapse of two years,” said Phachara, who also won the Asian Development Tour’s Boonchu Ruangkit Championship two weeks ago.
“I have been in good form recently and in the final round, everything clicked for me.”
However, the teenager, who has also earned a ticket to this year’s British Open, said he wasn’t confident of victory until Chawalit missed a birdie putt on the last hole.
The two-million-baht event also served as the second leg of the Road to True Thailand Classic which ends with the Chang-Phetchaburi event on Feb 17-20. The top 16 players after three tournaments will qualify for the US$1.75 million Classic at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin on March 10-13.
“This win should be enough to get me a place in the True Thailand Classic,” said Phachara.
Phachara will play in an ADT event in Singapore this week aiming to earn a spot in the Singapore Open in the following week. He is now No.9 in the reserve list for the Singapore Open.