Korea’s Mo Joong-kyung claimed a three-shot victory at the Singha Thailand PGA Championship presented by Sports Authority of Thailand on Sunday to end a long 12-year title drought on the Asian Tour.
The 36-year-old Mo held off the combined challenges of Filipino Juvic Pagunsan and local hero Prayad Marksaeng with a superb final round of seven-under-par 65 at Santiburi Country Club Chiang Rai to claim the first prize of US$47,550.
It wasn’t quite a stroll for overnight leader Mo as Pagunsan battled brilliantly on the back nine to stay hot on the Korean’s heels before settling for the runner-up place following a 68.
In-form Prayad, chasing a third victory this month, got to within two shots of the lead coming down the stretch but ran out of holes for a 66 to share third place with Australian David Gleeson, who charged up the leaderboard with a blistering 64.
“This is a very special moment for me,” said Mo, who lifted his second Asian Tour title with a 21-under-par 267 total.
“The first time I won in Guam in 1996, that got me going in my career and I won four times back home after that. But winning in Asia again after 12 long years is very special. I cannot explain in words,” he added.
Tied for the overnight lead with Pagunsan, Mo turned in 33 to open up a two-shot advantage but a bogey on the 10th hole kept the chasing pack in with a chance. It was exhibition golf as Mo and Pagunsan traded three straight birdies from the 11th to 14th holes, with Prayad and Gleeson lurking with their own run of birdies.
The lead was back to two after Mo knocked in a 10-foot birdie on the 15th hole, which he held on to until the last hole, a par five. After Pagunsan ran his 25-foot eagle attempt well past the pin on 18, Mo birdied the finishing hole for good measure and celebrated with a clenched fist.
“Juvic was so playing well and Prayad and Gleeson were also right in it. There wasn’t an easy moment on the course today although I’d won by three in the end. It was really hard work to win this and I’m really happy.
“If I’d made one mistake, I would have been gone. I was just trying to keep the ball on the fairways and greens and make putts. Luckily I did that all day,” said Mo.
Pagunsan, who was bidding for a second Asian Tour win, held his head high after throwing everything at the winner with his five-birdie round against an opening bogey.
“I played good but Mo putted so well, he made nearly everything. There was no doubt he was the deserving winner. I threw everything at him and kept going at him but he was just too good.
“I knew I needed an eagle at the last to have a chance (of forcing a play-off) and I didn’t want to leave my putt short. It wasn’t a difficult putt and I tried to aim for the flag but missed it. I’m still happy with how I played.”
An overnight three-shot deficit proved too much for Prayad, who had triumphed twice in Japan in recent weeks. He sank six birdies against no bogeys but ran out of holes to catch the winner.
“Every time I birdied, Mo would also birdie. I kept looking at the leaderboard on the back nine and it was quite disheartening,” said Prayad. “I had some missed chances on the back nine and left some putts short. The greens were a bit slower due to the overnight rain but I’m happy that my form is good ahead of next month’s British Open.”
Gleeson, who arrived in Chiang Rai a week early with his family and put in six practice rounds in total, said: "I putted really good today, made three putts from the fringe. I had a good start but on the middle of the back nine, I played a few ordinary holes and didn't gave myself some real chances. I'm happy as I played well. I prepared well by coming out here early and it shows that good preparation does help."
Malaysia’s Ben Leong settled for fifth place after a final round 69 while Thailand’s Prom Meesawat was sixth following a 67.
The Asian Tour will take a break for a month before resuming with the Selangor Masters in Malaysia in early August.
Korea’s Mo Joong-kyung claimed a three-shot victory at the Singha Thailand PGA Championship presented by Sports Authority of Thailand on Sunday to end a long 12-year title drought on the Asian Tour.
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