PATTAYA : Teenage amateur Sherman Santiwiwatthanapong celebrated her birthday by winning the PTT Global Chemical Thailand Ladies Open yesterday.
Sherman Santiwiwatthanapong
Four strokes off the pace after two rounds of the 54-hole tournament, Sherman, who turned 17 yesterday, fired a four-under-par 68 in the final round for 213 at Siam Country Club's Plantation Course.
The teenager beat LPGA Tour star Pornanong Phatlum and fellow amateur Ornnicha Kosunthea who both shot 69s in the final round of the US$175,000 Ladies Asian Golf Tour event.
Sherman made five birdies, including three in a row from 10th hole, and a lone bogey at the 17th.
She fended off late challenges from Pornanong and Ornnicha who shared second place on 214.
"I am very happy to win the tournament. It is a great birthday present for myself," she said.
"I felt under pressure in the home stretch but I just tried to play my own game."
Sherman became the third amateur to win the tournament since its establishment in 1987 after Naree Wongluekiet (2001) and Taiwan's Connie YJ (1998).
With the victory, Bung Kan-born Sherman's name is on the trophy alongside some of the world's top players who have won the Thailand Ladies Open including Park Hee-Young (2006), Shin Ji-Yai (2007), Sofie Gustafson (1997) and Laura Davies (1993-94).
It has been a good year for Sherman who won the Thailand Ladies Amateur Open in March.
Meanwhile, national player Ornnicha, who was three strokes behind the leader after two rounds, started with a first-hole bogey but fought back with five birdies.
However, a final-hole bogey ended her chance of forcing a play-off.
With both Sherman and Ornnicha being amateurs, Pornanong took home the $26,250 (about 800,000 baht) top prize.
The 24-year-old from Chaiyaphum, who won the country's prestigious tournament in 2008, fired a final-round 69 with five birdies against two bogeys.
Pavarisa Yoktua soared to a 77 to share fifth place with world No.49 Lee-Ann Pace of South Africa (72) and amateur Cheng Su-Chia of China (69).
Pace, who has won three times on the Ladies European Tour this year, posted a 72 with two birdies and two bogeys.
First-round leader Connie Chen of South Africa (76) was tied for ninth with Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul (69) on 221.
Defending champion Nontaya Srisawang was joint 13th alongside Tiranan Yoopan.
Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, who will make her debut on the LPGA Tour next season, finished tied for 26th on 227.
FINAL ROUND SCORES
(Par 72, Thai unless stated, a denotes amateur)
213 _ Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (A) 70-75-68
214 _ Pornanong Phatlum73-72-69, Ornnicha Kosunthea (A) 75-70-69
217 _ Pauline Del Rosario (PHI) (A) 72-78-67
218 _ Cheng, Ssu-Chia (TWN) (A) 78-71-69, Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) 74-73-71, Pavarisa Yoktuan 71-70-77
220 Supamas Sangchan (A) 73-74-73
221 _ Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul 76 76 69, Connie Chen (RSA) 68-77-76
222 _ Budsabakorn Sukapan (A) 76-75-71, Titya Plucksataporn 75-73-74
223 _ Nontaya Srisawang 81-73-69, TirananYoopan 74-73-76
