Kemaman [TERENGGANU]: Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand mounted a late charge to win his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Terengganu Championship on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Pavit sank six birdies in his last 12 holes for a five-under-par 66 and a 13-under-par 271 total to defeat overnight leader Pijit Petchkasem, also of Thailand by a single stroke at the RM200,000 (approximately US$60,000) ADT event.
It was a case of so close but yet so far again for Pijit, who settled for second after returning with a 71 while Rattanon Wannasrichan completed a top-three finish for Thailand at the Resorts World Kijal. Shaaban Hussin (71) was the best placed Malaysian in fourth after ending his campaign on 276.
Pavit, who won his first ADT title in the 2013 season-ending event in Jakarta, credited a hot putter for his fight-back where he had to overcome a four-shot deficit in the final round.
He opened with five pars and dropped a shot on six before holing the putt of the day from 20 feet on the par-three seventh hole which eventually sparked his title charge as he returned with five other birdies to seal the win.
“I’m very happy to come from behind and win. I knew I was in contention but I didn’t think of a number to shoot in the last round. I was quite confidence of going low and I putted very well on the back nine to win.
“The birdie on seven was decisive. I was one-over and I couldn’t sink my putts early in the round. The birdie on seven helped me gain confidence and I continued my momentum from there,” said Pavit, who won approximately US$11,111 and earned six Official World Golf Ranking points.
Pavit’s victory pushed him to second on the ADT Order of Merit and the Thai is determined to stay inside the top-five on the Merit list until the end of the season as it will earn him an Asian Tour card for 2015.
“It is still long way to go (eight ADT events remaining) and anybody can finish inside the top-five. I played on the Asian Tour in 2009 and 2010 and I have some experience of playing there. It is tough playing on the Asian Tour but I really miss playing on the main Tour,” said Pavit.
Pijit was disappointed to fall short in his chase for a first ADT win due to fatigue. A double bogey on 11th courtesy of a wayward tee shot derailed his title hopes as he marked his card with four other birdies against two bogeys.
“I need to take care of my fitness because I was getting weaker as the week went on. It is disappointing but I’m slowly improving,” said Pijit, whose runner-up result was his third top-10 result this season.
Leading final round scores (Malaysian unless stated):
271 – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 65-70-70-66
272 – Pijit Petchkasem (THA) 69-65-67-71
274 – Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) (69-68-69-68)
276 – Shaaban Hussin 68-71-66-71
277 – Malcolm Kokocinski (SWE) (70-68-70-69)
278 – Nabi Abdul (AUS) 71-71-71-65, Tenka Terada (JPN) 70-71-71-66, Abel Tam 71-68-67-72
279 – Casey O’Toole (USA) 69-71-73-66, Grant Jackson (ENG) 70-67-75-67, Airil Rizman Zahari 72-71-68-67, Zaw Moe (MYA) 70-67-72-70
