Kuching [SARAWAK]: Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert underscored his growing reputation as a regular winner as he stormed to a five-stroke victory in the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) MNRB Sarawak Championship at Kelab Golf Sarawak on Saturday.
Pavit, who just clinched his second ADT title at the PGM Terengganu Championship last month, mixed his card with one eagle and four birdies against three straight bogeys to compile a four-day total of 14-under-par 274 at the RM250,000 (approximately US$80,000) ADT event.
Malaysian rising star Arie Irawan marked his best result on the ADT this season following a 68 to take second place with co-overnight leader Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand, who slipped with a closing 74 at the Sarawak Golf Club.
Annop, younger brother of Pavit, battled to a 68 to stay one shot back in fourth place with England’s Grant Jackson while Malaysia’s Sukree Othman and Thailand’s Pasamet Pogamnerd shared sixth on matching 281s after rounds of 70 and 73 respectively.
Pavit came into prominence when he won his first ADT title in the 2013 season-ending event in Jakarta before notching two victories and five top-fives so far this year. He moves up one rung to second place on the Order of Merit where he trails current leader Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei by about US$16,400.
Pavit’s overnight four-shot lead was never really threatened despite ending his round with three consecutive bogeys.
“I am really pleased with my win today. I’ve been playing some good golf and with this win, I am quite confident of finishing in top-five on the final Order of Merit to earn my Asian Tour card for 2015,” smiled the 25-year-old Thai, who took home a winner’s prize purse of US$13,769 and six Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
“I’ve been trying to maintain my fitness. I’m glad to still be able to play well although I am getting tired. I will continue to work on that as I still have a couple more events to go,” added Pavit.
Meanwhile an upbeat Arie hopes to ride on his good form as he attempts to make his mark on the Asian Tour when he heads to the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters next week.
“I gave myself a lot of good chances today. I’m enjoying a good run of form recently so I hope to ride on that when I play on the Asian Tour next week. I learnt a lot from playing against the good players out here,” said the 24-year-old.
“I think the difference now is that I am letting things unfold naturally out on the golf course as opposed to trying to make things happen. I am very happy with my game and I hope for it to continue,” he added.
Leading final round scores (Malaysian unless stated):
274 – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 69-69-67-69
279 – Arie Irawan 71-69-71-68, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA) 67-68-70-74
280 – Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 76-67-69-68, Grant Jackson (ENG) 66-70-73-71
281 – Sukree Othman 69-68-74-70, Pasamet Pogamnerd (THA) 68-68-72-73
282 – Khor Kheng Hwai 69-71-74-68, Koh Deng Shan (SIN) 69-72-72-69, Tirto Tamardi (A) (INA) 75-70-67-70, Sattaya Supupramai (THA) 72-71-68-71, Peter Richardson (ENG) 72-72-66-72
283 – Niall Turner (IRE) 69-73-74-67, Darren Tan (AUS) 74-71-70-68
284 – Blair Wilson (AUS) 71-76-69-68, Michael Moore (AUS) 68-71-72-73, Shaun Malone (ENG) 68-74-69-73
