Pavit clinches record seventh ADT victory

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Pavit clinches record seventh ADT victory

By THE NATION

 

Pavit Tangkamolprasert

 

Nakhon Ratchasima - The in-form Pavit Tangkamolprasert made history after he clinched the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship with a two-shot victory courtesy of a four-under-par 67 in the final round on Sunday.

 

Pavit, who held a two-shot advantage coming into Sunday’s action, kept his nerve after trading five birdies against one bogey for a winning total of 23-under-par 261 to stave off the challenge from American John Catlin.

 

The 30-year-old was ecstatic to win this title in the honour of his idol.

 

“I’m very happy, because this is the Boonchu (Ruangkit Championship) title. He is a Thai legend who has his own tournament to contribute to our golf. He is my idol since I was young, and it’s an honour to win in his name,” said Pavit, who becomes the first winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) this season.

 

More importantly, he etches his name into the history books by becoming the most successful golfer on the tour with seven wins, surpassing Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang who shared six titles with him previously.

 

Since claiming his first ADT title in Indonesia back in 2014, Pavit went on to become the Order of Merit champion that year and never looked back.

 

He has high regard for the ADT for shaping his career.

 

“I respect the ADT very much, it is a tour that is only getting stronger. I got into the Asian Tour through this tour and will always recognize that,” he said.

 

Pavit had to keep his composure on a day he described was the “toughest to attack the pins”.

 

He notched his first birdie on the fifth hole, along with Catlin.

 

He gained an advantage when the American fumbled with a bogey on the eighth, before both golfers bumped in another birdie on the ninth.

Pavit continued his consistency after the turn with another three birdies, and romped to victory despite a bogey in the final hole.

 

“Today was the toughest to attack the pins, so I had to play straight to the plan and play a safer game. From my position, there was no need to attack the pins so much because it was windy.”

 

Pavit also ensured the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship title is won yet again by another Thai golfer, following in the footsteps of Phiphatphong Naewsuk, Danthai Boonma, Namchok Tantipokhakul and Itthipat Buranatanyarat.

 

Victory also sees him pocketing US$22, 973.42.

 

Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit finished in third (265), while Sweden’s Andreas Gronkvist and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana finished tied-fourth (268).

 

Final round scores

 

261 - Pavit Tangkamolprasert 69-62-63-67 (THA)

263 - John Catlin 63-62-71-67 (USA)

265 – Tirawat Kaewsiribandit 67-65-68-65 (THA)

268 - Andreas Gronkvist 68-64-67-69 (SWE), Sadom Kaewkanjana 65-61-70-72 (THA)

269 - Arnond Vongvanij 67-67-65-70 (THA)

270 – Kosuke Hamamoto 67-67-71-65 (THA), Prayad Marksaeng 64-67-70-69 (THA)

271 – Pawin Ingkhapradit 69-67-72-63 (THA), Kammalas Namuangruk (THA) 69-65-69-68, Suradit Yongcharoenchai 60-66-75-70 (THA), Thongchai Jaidee 68-61-68-74 (THA)

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30381084

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-27

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