Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Thailand underlined its standing as ASEAN’s leading golfing force by claiming three out of four titles at the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championships.
While the formidable Thai contingent were celebrating successes in the 14th Lion City Cup, the 12th Santi Cup and the 8th Kartini Cup, it was Indonesia who emerged triumphant in the 60th edition of the Putra Cup.
“The Mines Resort Golf Club has been the perfect backdrop for a championship that has exceeded expectations in every aspect,” said Dato’ Zulkifli Ismail, Secretary General of the ASEAN Golf Federation.
Individual honours went to Indonesian Randy Bintang (Putra Cup), Vietnam’s Nguyen Duc Son (Lion City Cup), and Thais Suvichaya Vinijchaitham (Santi Cup) and Achiraya Sriwong (Kartini Cup).
In the Putra Cup, the Indonesian quartet of Bintang, Gabriel Hansel Hari, Jonathan Hartono and Rayhan Latief proved too strong for their rivals.
Eleven shots clear at the start of the final round, the Indonesians' advantage never came under serious threat. In the event in which the three best daily scores from each four-strong team were counted, Indonesia’s final total of 829 was 13 clear of runners-up Vietnam with the Philippines a further six shots in arrears in third.
Individually, Bintang pipped team-mate Latief on a countback after they finished with identical 72-hole totals of eight-under 276. Hong Kong China’s Yue Yin-ho, the overnight leader, ended third on 278.
In the Lion City Cup, for boys under 16, the Thai trio of Krittipong Kamlagkee, Siradech Chanha and Teerawut Boonseor swept to a 14-shot success.
With the best two daily scores in each three-strong team counting, the Thais topped the leaderboard on 574 with Malaysia a distant second on 588 and the Philippines third on 589.
Despite the domination of the Thais, it was Duc Son who had the distinction of posting the lowest individual score of three-over 287, two ahead of Teerawut and Siradech in second and third.
The closest contest came in the women’s Santi Cup where Thailand’s Suvichaya, Thitikarn Thapasit and Pimpisa Rubrong held off strong challenges from their Hong Kong, China and Malaysian rivals to claim top billing.
With a 566 aggregate, the Thais finished just three shots in front of second-placed Hong Kong, for whom Sophie Han, the third-round leader, also had to settle for second spot individually behind Suvichaya. Malaysian Ng Jing Xuan placed third.
It was in the Kartini Cup, for girls under 16, that Thailand won by the widest margin.
With Achiraya, Prim Prachakorn and Satonkan Thiengsi showing no signs of complacency, Thailand more than doubled their 12-stroke overnight lead. With a total of 564, they ended 30 shots clear of runners-up the Philippines.
Individually, Singapore’s Chen Xingtong led by six shots heading into the final round but eventually finished second, five shots behind Achiraya.
