Rattanon beats Prayad in play-off for 1st title in 2 years

Rattanon beats Prayad in play-off for 1st title in 2 years

By THE NATION

Rattanon Wannasrichan

After Rattanon Wannasrichan made a needy birdie to outplay veteran Prayad Marksaeng in a play-off to win the Bt3 million Singha-SAT Khon Kaen Championship on Saturday, he regained the long-lost confidence that he still got what it takes to win.

Since his last triumph that coincidently took place here at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club in 2018, Rattananon’s form had been down in the dumb, missing cuts more than 10 events in 2019.

He started to make some cuts and posted a top 10 finish after the COVID-break earlier this year before ending the two-year-drought of title at the par 72 7,557 yard course.

“2019 was by far the worst year in my career,” said the 25-year-old Rattanon who chipped in a 45 yard eagle shot to catch up with the Prayad on top of the leaderboard at 11 under-par-205 on regulation.

“I had some muscle problem which could be inflicted by sitting on a plane for too long. I couldn’t hit the ball straight and my confidence was gone,” said the Chanthaburi-based who sealed off his victory with a three-foot-birdie putt in the par 5 hole 18 play-off after the 54-year-old Prayad had missed a six-foot birdie attempt earlier.

As the pandemic suspended tournaments for months, it also allowed the 2017 Thailand Open champion to put behind the disastrous memory in 2019.

“I was so disappointed last year because I was able to play in the Japan Tour but I didn’t perform well. Luckily, the COVID break allowed me stop thinking of the game. Gradually, the ghost of 2019 vamished. I became more relaxed and at the same time tried to get the old good feelings back,” added Rattanon.

And so he did on Saturday to claim the champion’s prize money of Bt360,000.

“It means a lot to me psychologically to finally win again. At least I know I still have the game,” said Rattanon who would spend long holidays before his next event in January.

Meanwhile, Prayad as a runner-up had to be content with a Bt198,000 checque.

However, the 2020 Order of Merits title belongs to Panuphol Phittayarat who has earned a total gross of Bt630,911, with Prayad coming at second with Bt607,216.

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30399891?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=internal_referral