The local Thai golfers held the upper hand over their foreign counterparts at the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Junior Golf Asian Masters Final, which was held at Burapha Golf & Resort recently. Of the eight classes played, Thai golfers triumphed in 5, whilst golfers from Hong Kong and Taipei took the honours in the other 3 classes.
The best score over the 54 holes played was recorded by Daechawat Phetprayoon in the Boys 12 and under class; he shot a 12 under par total of 204, with his best round on the final day when he carded a 6 under par 66. Daechawat finished 6 strokes clear of runner-up Supakit Seelanagae, with Watcharakarn Chankarn a further stroke away in 3rd place.
Trophy winners and VIPs pose for a group photograph at the conclusion of the Mercedes-Benz Junior Golf Asian Masters Final at Burapha Golf Resort, June 12, 2015.
The closest finish of the tournament was in the Girls 17 and under class where Lin Jie-En of Taiwan beat local girl Sasikarn Somboonsup on a play-off after both girls had finished on 220. Sasikarn had led going into the final round by 2 strokes, but a pair of bogeys on holes 15 and 18 allowed her opponent to force the play-off. Liu Yan of China was 5 strokes adrift in 3rd place.
In the other Boy’s classes, Peerawish Kriangkhajohn came from behind on the last day to snatch victory in the 14 and under class, finishing 2 strokes ahead of Phasin Vichitcharoenpaisarn in 2nd place, with Natthaphat Harnchokechaiskul a further 2 strokes back in 3rd place.
Hong Kong’s Leon Philip D’Souza also came from behind on a rain hit 3rd day to snatch a win over Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool, with a final round of even par 72. Tanapat had led on the first 2 days, but a double bogey on hole no 2 on the last day cost him dearly and he finished 2 strokes behind D’Souza. Pakorn Niamsang came in 3rd, a further 3 strokes behind.
In the 23 and under class Thailand’s Napong Sriprasit held the lead from start to finish carding a 6 under par 210 and beating 2nd placed Hlaing Min Htet of Myanmar by a whopping 9 strokes. 3rd place went to Myanmar’s Zin Aung Min.
In the Girls classes, Thailand’s Jumpita Chul-Ak-Sorn was a comprehensive winner in the 12 and under class finishing on 222, 9 strokes in front of 2nd placed Piraya Yingpisit, with India’s Thiara Vasundhara coming home 3rd.
Atthaya Thitikul won the 14 and under class, with a 4 under par total of 212, she pushed Arpichaya Yubol into 2nd place by 4 strokes with Chanikan Panthong taking 3rd spot.
Foreign golfers dominated the 23 and under class with Mimi Ho of Hong Kong blasting her way to an 8 shot victory over Mao Ling-Chieh of Taipei, whose compatriot Lai Yi-Ting finished in 3rd position.
The Mercedes-Benz Junior Golf Asian Masters Final was held at Burapha Golf & Resort, Chonburi Province from 10-12 June, 2015.
