Teenage Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul fired a final round 67 to win by three strokes at the first leg of the 800,000-baht Singha-Thai LPGA Championship 2016 in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday.
Starting the final day two strokes behind leaders at the 54-hole tournament, Kanphanitnan carded five birdies in a flawless round to win the title with an eight-under 208 total at the par-72 Rancho Charnvee Resort & Country Club.
Saranporn Langkulgasettrin (70) and Wanchana Poruangrong (72), who shared the top spot with amateur Kamonwan Lueamsri after two rounds, finished tied for second three strokes behind Kanphanitnan.
Chorphaka Jaengkit (70) and Pinrath Loomboonruang (71) shared fourth place on 212, while Kamonwan was sixth on 213 following a soaring 74 in the final round.
Supamas Sangchan, the Thai LPGA money winner last year, shot a 69 to finish seventh on 214.
The 17-year-old Kanphanitnan received the winner's cheque of 114,000 baht while Saranporn and Wanchana took home 54,625 baht each.
It is Kanphanitnan's 11th professional title since turning pro three years ago and second of the year after her victory in the Hitachi Ladies Open in Taiwan.
Kanphanitnan said this year she will be focusing on Ladies European Tour, starting in Morocco in May, and the China LPGA Tour. She will later join the second stage of the LPGA Tour's Q-school in October.
"I am happy to win the title here, however my best has yet to come," said Kanphanitnan, who topped the money list on the Thai LPGA tour in 2014.
"I am making some changes to my swing."
The next leg of the Singha-SAT Thai LPGA 2016 will be held at the Royal Hills Golf Resort and Spa in Nakhon Nayok on April 27-29.