Shah Alam [SELANGOR]: Thailand’s Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng erased the heartbreaks from two play-off defeats over the last two years by claiming the Malaysian Amateur Open on Sunday.

Leading by eight shots coming into the final round, the 21-year-old Udon Thani native rounded off an otherwise sublime display with a closing one-over 73 to emerge victorious on 16-under-par from compatriot and titleholder Sadom Kaewkanjana.

Sadom, who had defeated Witchayanon on the first extra hole last year in Karambunai Golf Resort, signed for a 70 to finish five strokes adrift at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf & Country Club.

South East Asia (SEA) Games gold medallist Kosuke Hamamoto (71) completed a dominant showing by the Thais, completing the podium on eight-under 280.

India’s Kshitij Naveed Kaul, who held the 36-hole lead, returned a 75 to settle for a share of fourth on 284 alongside Chuan-tai Lin (71) of Chinese Taipei.

The best local finisher was Victor Ng Yu Kai – the 16-year-old recording his best-ever finish at the national amateur Open with a one-over 289 overall for sole eighth placing.

Leading final results (Par-72)
272 – Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng (THA) 70-65-64-73
277 – Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) 69-69-69-70
280 – Kosuke Hamamoto (THA) 72-72-65-71
284 – Chuan-tai Lin (TPE) 73-70-70-71, Kshitij Naveed Kaul (IND) 68-66-75-75
285 – Atiruj Winaicharoenchai 68-73-71-73
288 – Aadil Bedi (IND) 73-71-73-71
289 – VICTOR NG YU KAI 70-72-76-71
290 – Narajie Emerald Ramadhanputra (INA) 75-73-73-69, Low Wee Jin (SGP) 70-75-73-72, Jonathan Wijono (INA) 73-71-73-73, Yung-hua Liu (TPE) 73-69-75-73