Suteepat Prateeptienchai beat arch-rival Ekpharit Wu by three points after their nerve-wracking final round battle in the 3.45-million-baht Thailand Mixed Stableford Challenge at the par-71 Gassan Khuntan Golf and Resort in Lamphun yesterday.
Both competitors once again fought for the title after emerging among the contenders in last week's Thailand Mixed Cup but eventually losing to CharngTai Sudsom.
Tied with 69 points coming into the 16th hole, Ekpharit succumbed to his nerves with a bogey while Suteepat maintained his composure to birdie the next hole, propelling him to 20 points and a total of 71.
As both players parred the 18th hole, it meant Suteepat prevailed by three points, leaving Ekpharit content with second place, scoring 17 in the final round and totalling 69 points overall.
"I was so overwhelmed. To be honest, I was under a lot of pressure as Ekpharit and I started with the same score," said the 30-year-old Suteepat whose total score of 71 marked the highest ever recorded in a Stableford format in the Thailand Mixed history.
"I saved a lot of par putts and capitalised on scoring opportunities whenever they arose. Additionally, he made a mistake on the 16th hole while I birdied the 17th. That's why I felt quite relaxed on the final hole," added the Bangkokian, who has secured a total of six career titles.
"I'm extremely pleased with my performance this week. I finished 31-under-par after four days [if converted to the normal stroke-play format], which is the best score of my life," added Suteepat, who received the winner's prize of 517,500 baht.
Finishing eight points behind Ekpharit in third place was Sangchai Kaewcharoen.
Among the female players, seventeen-year-old Kornkanok Sungpankhao achieved the highest finish, securing a total score of 57 for lone fourth.