2006 Hong Kong Ladies Masters - Round 3: 16 year old Amateur Pornanong wins by one

Thailand's amateur Pornanong Phatlum claimed the US$80,000 Hong Kong Ladies Masters 2006 title to be the first and youngest winner in the inaugural event of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.

The 16-year-old pint-sized lass from Chaiphun province in north-eastern Thailand near the Laos border, did it by picking up strokes on the 16th and 17th holes after she and China's Zhong Xiaolong shared and switched leads several times.

The Thai lass had a final day score of 3-under 73 at the par-73 Kau Sai Chau's North Course for a three-round total of 216.

"The win did not come easy for me. I worked hard for it. I'll be back in two weeks time playing in the second event at my own backyard in the Thailand Ladies Open from February 22-24 in Bangkok," said Pornanong.

However, the amateur lass could not pick up the first prize cheque due to her status.

"I'm not so worried about that, but I'm going back and filing my papers to join the professional rank. I'll then play the Thailand Ladies Open as a professional and hope for a back-to-back win and be able to receive prize money," Pornanong said, adding that she also won the men's amateur event - Singha Masters - last month in Chiang Rai, North Thailand.

Prior to this Pornanong had already discussed with her coach Supaphorn that she will turn pro if she wins the Hong Kong Ladies Masters.

Zhong signed off with only one birdie and the long hitter failed to take advantage of the par-5s - her favourite holes - as she hit some wayward drives to be placed on the roughs. She played 1-over 74 for a grand total of 217 to tie second place with another Thai player Russammee Gulyanamitta. Both Zhong and Russamme pocketed a US$10,000 each.

"I don't know what went wrong with my game today. I was not really hitting well but got of lucky to finish joint second," she said, looking a litte disappointed.

For Russammee it was a good outing. "I did not play well and posted a few bogeys in the front nine but after the turn my game got better," said Russamme, played one-under 72 today.

Another Chinese player Yang Hongmei finished fourth with a total of 218. She played to a score of one-over 74 today.

Second round co-leader Linda Wessberg had a bad run on a very fine final day. The Swede ended her final round with a four-over 77 to finish on sole fifth position.
"I hate to describe my game, but I guess it wasn't a very bad one," she said.

Hong Kong's Demi Mak was the country's best finisher securing the joint 12th position. She played five-over for a total of 232.

February 10, 2006