Asian Tour: Nitithorn claims International Series Singapore title after nervy wait, as lightning forces delay at the last
- Thai golfer claims clubhouse lead on 16-under and then has 40 minute wait as storm hits
- Pressure-packed putt seals victory for 25-year-old, who claims second win of the season
Nitithorn Thippong won the inaugural International Series Singapore on Sunday after one of the most dramatic finishes seen on the Asian Tour.
After holing a 15ft putt to save par on 18 to take the clubhouse lead on 16-under, Nitithorn then had to wait and see if Gavin Green, Chan Shih-chang or Phachara Khongwatmai could catch him.
It proved to be a much longer wait then expected as the last group were forced off the 18th hole for 40 minutes because of lightning, with Chan on 16-under and Green one back.
When the action resumed, Chan, who just before the weather delay had found water with his tee shot, made a double bogey while Green narrowly missed a 15ft birdie putt.
Nitithorn, who earned a lucrative cheque for US$270,000.
“I cannot describe my feelings right now,” Nitithorn said. “I have practised so hard for this. I hit lot of greens this week and had a lot of birdie putts. I think my mentality was great. I did not think about the score, just the process.”
The 25-year-old closed with a bogey-free three-under 69 to beat Green, Phachara and Richard T Lee from Canada by one shot. Green and Phachara both fired 71s, while Lee returned a 67.