(Gurgaon, India)
rn
rnThailand&aposs Pornanong Phatlum successfully defended her Women&aposs Indian Open title after firing a final round 4-under par 68 to finish two shots in front of Korea’s Hae Jung Kim. The 19-year-old from northern Thailand finished at 8-under par 208 on the DLF Golf and Country Club. Titiya Plucksataporn, a regular visitor to the ANZ Ladies Masters, finished in third place, a distant 11-shots behind Phatlum.
rn
rnPhatlum and Kim started the day level and after nine holes they were still tied after they both recorded 2 birdies and one bogey on the outward half. A birdie by Phatlum at the 10th gave her a one-shot lead which was short lived as Kim made a birdie of her own at the 12th. The turning point was the 15th hole where Kim made a bogey, followed by Phatlum’s birdie at the next to secure a two-shot advantage which she held onto through the last two holes.
rn
rnAfter her round, the two-time champion explained how the players in the final group, Kim, compatriot Nontaya Srisawang and herself had been in her room playing cards the night before. She said, “The three of us in the group had lots of fun and we kept talking today as if we were playing a social game.”
rn
rnKim, who finished as runner-up for the second week in a row after losing in a playoff at the Thailand Ladies Open last week commented, “I’m not sad but a little disappointed finishing runner-up twice inside two weeks.”
rn
rnThe best of the Australian’s was new ALPG Member Clare Choi who finished in a 5-way tie for 4th. Nicole Montgomery, another rookie, finished in a tie for 9th just one further shot back, while Bing Lim finished in a tie for 16th. Rosemary MacDonald (42nd) and Jody Fleming (T43) also made the cut but finished well back.
Author: