Phuket, Thailand, December 5: Phachara Khongwatmai finally secured his breakthrough maiden win on the Asian Tour today when he claimed the US$1million Laguna Phuket Championship after a gripping finish at Laguna Golf Phuket.
He holed a pressure-packed 12-foot par putt on the 18th to avoid a sudden-death play-off and beat countrymen Panuphol Pittayarat and Denwit Boriboonsub and Korean Bio Kim by a solitary shot.
Phachara, who first hit global headlines when he won a professional event aged 14, claimed the biggest tournament of his career so far after closing with an even-par 70 for a winning total of 10 under, on a difficult day when the wind speed reached 25 to 30km per hour.
“I feel very happy and very excited about this win. I have been waiting for about six years. Right now, it is my time, and I feel great,” said 22-year-old Phachara ‒ six-times a runner-up on the Asian Tour.
“Today was quite difficult because it was tough wind. I have never played this wind in Thailand before. Today was tough, and all about who can make the score. That last putt is my last chance for 18 holes but if I missed I knew I had another chance in a play-off. But I had that putt from that place before when I was here in quarantine.”
The Thai star has won twice before on the Asian Development Tour, both in 2015, while it was back in 2013 he triumphed in the Singha Hua Hin Open as a 14-year-old amateur.
The tournament developed into a two-horse race over the closing holes between Phachara and playing-partner Panuphol. The latter held the lead for much of the day but bogeyed three holes in a row from the 13th.
A pivotal two-shot swing saw Phachara draw level with Panuphol on the par-five 14th, where Phachara made birdie while Panuphol bogey.
And Phachara moved one ahead on the following hole when he made par while Panuphol registered another bogey.
The momentum was in Phachara’s favor but the drama was soon to follow when he three-putted 17, after missing a seven-footer for par, to leave them both tied on 10 underplaying the par-four 18th, with Kim, also playing in the group, one back.
In a nail-biting finale, Panuphol ‒ whose approach shot landed 15 yards short ‒ chipped to 15 feet but missed his attempt, while Kim’s birdie putt from 22 feet also slipped past the hole.
Earlier, Phachara had had to deal with a difficult 40-foot birdie putt, which sped past the cup to set up victory with the last roll of the dice.
Denwit, aged just 17, returned a 68, Panuphol 71, and Bio a 72.
Bio, like Phachara was looking for his first Asian Tour win having led after each of the first three days and had started the final round with a one-shot advantage over his two playing partners.
But he got off to the worse start possible with four bogeys in the first five holes. He was out of contention for most of the day until presented with a chance to make extra time on 18.
“It was another difficult day when I could not find my rhythm, but I still had some chances with some putts coming in. I am proud of the way I hung in there,” said Bio.
The tournament was the second and final event of the Asian Tour Phuket Series.
The Asian Tour heads next to Singapore, where two 2020-21 season-ending events are being planned.
Scores after round 4 of the Laguna Phuket Championship being played at the par 70, 6770 Yards Laguna GP course (am – denotes amateur):
270 – Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 66-65-69-70.
271 – Denwit Boriboonsub (THA) 69-68-66-68, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 68-64-68-71, Bio Kim (KOR) 62-66-71-72.
272 – Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) 68-65-72-67, Hongtaek Kim (KOR) 68-70-67-67.
273 – Joohyung Kim (KOR) 66-69-69-69, Steve Lewton (ENG) 66-68-69-70, Natipong Srithong (THA) 68-64-70-71.
274 – Scott Hend (AUS) 71-63-70-70, Ryan Lumsden (SCO) 68-67-68-71, Dodge Kemmer (USA) 70-69-64-71, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-65-69-72.
275 – Wade Ormsby (AUS) 70-69-68-68, Sihwan Kim (USA) 71-67-69-68, Donlaphatchai Niyomchon (THA) 69-69-67-70, Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol (THA) 63-67-72-73.
276 – Witchayapat Sinsrang (THA) 71-66-70-69, Rashid Khan (IND) 69-65-76-66, Berry Henson (USA) 68-72-66-70, Mathiam Keyser (RSA) 69-69-67-71, Kosuke Hamamoto (THA) 66-67-70-73, Yikeun Chang (KOR) 69-65-68-74.
277 – Danthai Boonma (THA) 71-67-71-68, Travis Smyth (AUS) 63-74-71-69, Shiv Kapur (IND) 67-74-66-70, Bongsub Kim (KOR) 67-72-68-70, Zach Bauchou (USA) 67-70-69-71, Chang Wei-lun (TPE) 69-68-68-72.
278 – Ratchanon Chantananuwat (am, THA) 68-72-69-69, David Langley (ENG) 71-68-69-70, Ben Campbell (NZL) 70-70-69-69, Suttijet Kooratanapisan (THA) 69-67-73-69.
279 – Ben Eccles (AUS) 71-66-71-71, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 69-72-66-72.
280 – Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 69-67-72-72, Waris Manthorn (THA) 67-71-70-72, Jarin Todd (USA) 68-70-70-72, Khalin Joshi (IND) 67-71-72-70, Kasidit Lepkurte (THA) 66-72-69-73, Veer Ahlawat (IND) 66-67-73-74, Nitithorn Thippong (THA) 70-69-73-68, Sungho Lee (KOR) 69-72-71-68.
281 – Sattaya Supupramai (THA) 71-70-67-73, Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA) 70-65-72-74, Ian Snyman (RSA) 70-71-70-70, Trevor Simsby (USA) 68-70-69-74, Paul Peterson (USA) 69-69-69-74, Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA) 68-72-72-69, Bjorn Hellgren (SWE) 71-68-74-68.
282 – S Chikkarangappa (IND) 68-69-72-73, Nirun Sae-Ueng (THA) 69-72-70-71, Settee Prakongvech (THA) 69-70-73-70, Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 68-71-73-70, Yoseop Seo (KOR) 66-67-73-76, Justin Quiban (PHI) 69-72-71-70.
283 – Andrew Martin (AUS) 69-71-74-69, Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 69-72-75-67.
285 – Vanchai Luangnitikul (THA) 66-70-72-77, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 67-72-77-69.
286 – Micah Lauren Shin (USA) 72-67-70-77, Poosit Supupramai (THA) 67-70-73-76, Piya Sawangarunporn (THA) 70-66-74-76, Charng-Tai Sudsom (THA) 68-72-70-76, Nicholas Fung (MAS) 69-69-74-74, Poom Saksansin (THA) 73-67-73-73.
287 – Gavin Green (MAS) 73-66-76-72.
288 – Sarun Sirithon (THA) 66-74-72-76, Rory Hie (INA) 70-71-71-76, Udayan Mane (IND) 66-75-71-76.
289 – Taehoon Ok (KOR) 68-70-75-76, Galven Green (MAS) 69-72-75-73.
293 – Karandeep Kochhar (IND) 68-72-79-74, Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA) 71-70-79-73.
296 – Cory Crawford (AUS) 70-71-78-77.
About The Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of professional golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognized pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. The Tour is officially recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking and provides its events with valuable ranking points for participants to be recognized on the world stage. It is also an affiliate of The R&A. Tour Partners include Rolex (Timekeeper), Habitat for Humanity (Sustainable Development Partner), Titleist (Web Partner), and FootJoy (Tour Supplier). The corporate headquarters of the Asian Tour is based in Sentosa, which is the home of Asian Golf while Sentosa Golf Club is part of an exclusive network of properties under the Asian Tour Destinations. The Tour also has an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Photo credit: Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour
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