Suteepat Prateeptienchai became the first player to successfully defend a title on the Asian Tour in seven years, claiming the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open in Chinese-Taipei after a dramatic finish on Sunday.
The Thai golfer solidified his breakout star status with a birdie on the final hole at Taifong Golf Club, edging out compatriot Runchanapong Youprayong by one stroke. Suteepat birdied the par-five 18th after chipping to two feet, while Runchanapong, playing alongside him in the final group, missed his 10-foot birdie attempt moments earlier. Suteepat shot a four-under-par 68 to finish 22-under, while Runchanapong returned a 69.
“This means so much; I am very happy and excited,” said Suteepat, who started the day tied for the lead with Runchanapong.
“I made a bogey on six, and that made me really angry. It fired me up, and then I started making birdies.”
He rebounded with three consecutive birdies on holes 7 through 9 and added another on the 11th, pulling ahead by two strokes before Runchanapong leveled the contest with birdies on 15 and 17.
The victory, which earned Suteepat US$72,000 and moved him to fifth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, extends his remarkable run of form, particularly on this course. Two years ago, he finished second here on the Asian Development Tour (ADT). Last year, he went one better when the event debuted on the Asian Tour, and he won the Yeangder TPC on this same turf just two months ago.
“Even my caddie said when I play here, I always have a chance,” the 31-year-old added.
With this win, Suteepat became the first player to defend the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open and is virtually assured of becoming the first foreigner to win the Taiwan PGA Merit list. The victory also comes with a three-year exemption on the Asian Tour.
Runchanapong, just 23 and in his second professional season, reflected on his close finish.
“I thought that last putt was left edge, but when I putted, it didn’t move at all. It was a misread,” he said.
“I am happy, though I handled the pressure well even though I did not have my A game.”
Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao and Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam tied for third, finishing four shots back after closing rounds of 68. Thailand’s Danthai Boonma and Australia’s Jack Thompson shared fifth, another two strokes behind.
Shahriffuddin Ariffin carded a final-round 69 to finish tied for 14th at 11-under-par and be the best-placed Malaysian in Taiwan this week, while Galven Green ended tied for 38th at four-under-par.
The Asian Tour now heads to the Link Hong Kong Open next week at Hong Kong Golf Club, kicking off three high-stakes events to conclude the season, including the International Series Qatar and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
