Thongchai with his trophy in Madison, Wisconsin. – AFP
ONE of Asia’s most celebrated golf professionals, Thongchai Jaidee, carved out yet another piece of history for himself last week, while Malaysia’s Kelly Tan put on a good display on the LPGA Tour.
The Thai star clinched the American Family Insurance Championship on the PGA Champions Tour with a one-stroke victory margin at University Ridge Golf Club in Madison, Wisconsin.
Thongchai, who has eight European Tour (recently renamed the DP World Tour) titles to his credit, including two Malaysian Opens – secured in 2004 and 2005 – held off the challenge of Tom Pernice Jr when he finished with a 14-under-par 274 total.
Jerry Kelly, Marco Dawson, Kirk Triplett and Miguel Angel Jiménez finished in joint third place, two shots off the winning total.
Delighted with his triumph that made him the first winner from Thailand on the Champions Tour, Thongchai said: “This is a very big thing for me. The game has changed. Now I’m very, very happy to be on Tour.”
Pernice, gracious in defeat said: “I’m happy for Thongchai. He had a little bad break there on 16 to hit the trees and lose the ball, so to battle back and make a bogey and then to birdie 17, he deserves to win.”
Steve Stricker, who finished tied for 7th pace and well-remembered for his captaincy in the United States Ryder Cup victory over Europe last year, said “What another great week. The sun decided to show up at the very end, better late than never, I guess. Another wonderful week here. Tremendous crowd support, sponsor support and player support. We had it all again.”
Thongchai, hugely popular in this country, more so after his back-to-back Malaysian Open wins in 2004 and 2005, collected US$360,000 (RM1.58mil) for the victory.
Kelly Tan did herself proud in the Shoprite LPGA Classic at Seaview Bay Course in Galloway, New Jersey where she finished tied for 17th place and banked a cheque worth US$20,037 (RM88,200).
The event was won by Canada’s Brooke Henderson, who beat Lindsey Weaver-Wright in a play-off.
Tan shot rounds of 74, 67 and 67 for a five-under 208 total, and her best finish of the season, thus far.
Tan is in Belmont, Michigan this week, where she teed off in the first round of the Meijer LPGA Classic on Thursday.
