Khalin Joshi T7 at Taifong Open; Rattanon wins

Report by Anand Datla

August 02, 2015: Khalin Joshi was looking for a good low round on Sunday to finish the Taifong Open on a high note. But an even number of birdies and bogeys left him dealing with an even par 72 that left him in a tie for seventh. Thai teenager Rattanon Wanasrichan saved his best for last when he fired a seven-under-par 65 to win his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the Taifong Open on Sunday.

Joshi got his day going with a fine birdie at the par-4 first hole, but negated any benefit from there with a bogey at the fourth hole. The young Indian added bogeys at ten and twelve, before scrambling back to even terms with consecutive birdies at the final two holes of the tournament.

Rattanon, the 20-year-old Thai player shot eight birdies to return with a winning total of 12-under-par 276 to defeat a battling Casey O’Toole (66) of the United States and overnight leader Jordan Sherratt (71) of Australia by one shot at the Taifong Golf Club.

Lu Wei-chih was the best placed local player after returning with a 67 to share fourth place alongside Thailand’s Natthapong Niyomchon, who shot a 72, at the US$160,000 ADT event.

The baby-faced Rattanon, who was five shots back at the start of the day, got off to a hot start when he opened with three birdies. He added three more birdies in the middle of the round and sealed the deal with two closing birdies.

“I told myself that if I can birdie the last hole then I can win. I managed to do that so I’m proud of myself. I was five shots back after round three so I didn’t think I can win. I just played my own game and I’m glad that I won.

“After my hot start, I told myself that I have a chance to win. This is my best score this week and it is because I was hitting it very good with my irons and putter. My putting was key in today’s win,” smiled Rattanon, who dropped only one shot on hole 14.

He is now aiming to win his first Asian Tour title after taking home a winner’s cheque of US$28,000 and becoming the fifth Thai player to win on the ADT this year. He is also the 12th first-time winner on the ADT in 2015.

“Now that I’ve won my first title on the ADT, I want to try and win on the Asian Tour. That is my dream and goal this year,” said Rattanon.

O’Toole continued his good run of form on the ADT after claiming his seventh top-10 result. He birdied four in his opening five holes and added three more birdies, including two on 17 and 18 to set the early clubhouse pace before Rattanon charged home to victory.

The American held his head high despite missing out on a breakthrough win. “It feels good because I was five back heading into the final round. I’m happy with how I played. The second round hurt me but finishing it off with two birdies was nice and it kept me in contention today.

“To start the second half of the season on the right foot is good. I played as well as I could. I just got outplayed but that’s okay,” said O’Toole, who moved to second place on the Order of Merit.

Australia’s Sherratt missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole to force a play-off and was disappointed not to win his career’s first title after leading for two days.

“I was a bit nervous to start with. I three putted the first hole and that wasn’t the best. I played pretty well from there until I reached the 15th hole. I just hit a bad tee shot for bogey and three putted for another bogey on 16,” he explained.

“It was a good week but disappointing to lead for so long and not win. I needed to make birdie on the 18 to force a play-off and to be honest, it wasn’t that hard of a putt to make but I just didn’t hit a very good putt. It is what it is.”

Follow Us: @GolfingIndian
Join Us: Facebook.com/GolfingIndian
Download Our APP Here