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Chinarat has Number One written all over him

His nickname is "Neng" which in Thai means the number "one".

It is emblazed on his golf bag and it may well be Chinarat Phadungsil's destiny that he will become the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit number one in the very near future.

Still only 17 years of age – and he has yet to obtain his driving licence - the supremely talented Chinarat sensationally secured a second title of his fledgling career with a play-off victory at the Crowne Plaza Open on Sunday. His peers have hailed him as the future of Asian golf.

"Chinarat is rock solid. He's playing good. It's surprising to say that he's only 17. He's cool, calm and collected. He's got good technique and a good golf swing. Everything is good about him," said experienced Indian Amandeep Johl, who played two rounds with the young Thai last week.

Victory, which was worth US$31,700, propelled Chinarat into 19th place on the UBS Order of Merit with a season's haul of US$101,121, a considerable amount of money for a teenager. But he appears unfazed by his new found wealth or fame.

"I'm going to keep the money in the bank and use it to play in other tournaments," said Chinarat. On his nickname, he explained: "I was born on November 1, so that's three "ones" in those dates."

Through his golfing parents, Chinarat took up the sport when he was eight and got hooked. He blossomed into a fine amateur player, bringing honour to Thailand by winning the World Junior Amateur Championship in San Diego in 2005.

"I was eight years old when I went to the driving range, and then straight on to the golf course. I liked it straight away as I thought it was a tough sport, not like football where you just kick the ball around," said Chinarat, who shot a 71 in his first ever nine holes on the golf course.

Despite his inexperience, Chinarat faced up to the challenge at Yalong Bay Golf Club, absorbing the pressures of leading into the final round. He fell off the pace midway through but fought back gallantly with some wonderful shots.

None was better than his birdie on 18 in regulation, which he needed to join a three-way play-off with compatriot Prom Meesawat and Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang. With 190 yards to the flag and a stiff breeze blowing into his face, Chinarat rifled a four iron to 12 feet of the pin. He then drained the putt, saying his late coach Bud Kareeput, who died last month, "helped me hole the putt."

Kareeput was Chinarat's only coach and the student remembered his mentor. "I am giving this win to my teacher," he said with his voice chocking at the prize presentation. "Bud was like my second dad. I learned everything from him and the best advice that I got from him was that he said lazy players will not succeed."

Chinarat turned professional immediately after his historic triumph at the Double A International in Bangkok last November, becoming the Tour's youngest winner. He had been earmarked to lead Thailand in this December's Asian Games in Doha but he took the plunge in the professional rank.

The transition was difficult initially but he found his feet quickly and posted three top-10s in Asia before his second title. "It's been quite difficult. I had to do everything by myself. I needed to show more discipline, more concentration during the travels as it's me alone out there. When I was an amateur, everything was done for me. Now as a pro, you have to make the adjustments."

He plays practice rounds regularly with Thai stalwarts like reigning number one Thaworn Wiratchant, Prayad Marksaeng and Thammanoon Srirot, who between them have accumulated 18 Asian Tour titles. And Chinarat makes sure he learns from each of them.

"I have a few Thai players who are my heroes. Thaworn is good for his chipping and putting abilities, Thammanoon is a good friend and Prayad is a good driver of the ball. I play with them and I learn from them," he said.

Chinarat's ultimate goal would be to qualify and play on the US PGA Tour but the teenager is in no rush. "I would like to finish in the top-10 of the UBS Order of Merit here first," he said. "Maybe I will try to win the merit title within a few years time."

UBS Order of Merit – Top-20

Pos. Name Winnings (US$)

1. Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 441,758

2. Charlie WI (KOR) 329,680

3. Andrew BUCKLE (AUS) 280,212

4. Simon DYSON (ENG) 269,265

5. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 226,691

6. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 223,902

7. Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 192,682

8. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 191,112

9. Tadahiro TAKAYAMA (JPN) 173,460

10. WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 152,018

11. Scott STRANGE (AUS) 149,024

12. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 146,259

13. Jarrod LYLE (AUS) 136,270

14. Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 130,621

15. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 130,407

16. SUK Jong-yul (KOR) 125,630

17. Amandeep JOHL (IND) 112,363

18. Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 104,411

19. Chinarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 101,121

20. LEE Sung (KOR) 100,626

August 21, 2006