SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Thai teenager Danthai Boonma won his first Asian Tour title on Sunday by claiming the World Classic Championship by one shot following a final round two-under-par 69 at Laguna National.
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The 19-year-old, who graduated from qualifying school in January after only turning professional last year, signed for a two-under total of 282 to beat Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung (72) by one.
“I’m so excited and happy that I’m now a champion on the Asian Tour,” said Danthai, a double Southeast Asian Games gold medallist in 2012.
“I didn’t want to think too much about winning the tournament during my front nine especially after dropping a shot. But after making three birdies in four holes after the turn, I started to believe that this could be my week.”
Fung’s putting touch deserted him over the closing stretch. He three-putted for bogey five on 16 and missed with an effort on the last to force a playoff.
“The hole that cost me the title this week was the 16th hole where I missed a two-foot putt to save par,” he said.
The duo were the only ones to finish under par at the tough Laguna National course, which stepped in to host the $750,000 championship in September after Indonesia Open organisers asked for their event to be postponed.
(Reporting by Patrick Johnston; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
