Thai players put on a fabulous game at International Series Thailand

Written by: Akash Porwal

The International Series Thailand Tournament has ended on Sunday. It was being played at Black Mountain Golf Club from Thursday (3 - 6 March). This tournament has a $1.5 million prize fund and this is the third event on the 2022 Asian Tour schedule. The 10 event International Series teed off at the beach resort of Hua Hin.

In the first round American Sihwan Kim was leading at the leaderboard. Sihwan broke the course record at Black Mountain Golf Club yesterday after shooting 10-under-par 62 to take the lead on day one. On the last day Kim put on a spectacular show as he carded 29 on the on the front-nine to win the tournament, racking up an impressive seven straight birdies from hole two to hole nine.

“It just felt like I was going to make everything today. I was swinging it really freely,” he said.

Following Kim on the leaderboard is Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand on the second position. On day one of the tournament he shot 63 and dismantled the course. Phachara got round without dropping a shot, he carded nine birdies in the town where he had made global headlines in 2013 after winning the Shinga Hua Hin Open as a 14 year old amateur. On Saturday Phachara took lead of the tournament by pulling ahead of tight competition with a nine under par 63. On Sunday, Phachara managed four birdies and finished at par 68. Currently Phachara holds the 198^th rank in the official world golf rankings.

“Today, I was aiming to shoot four or five under to win, but Sihwan played very well, he was eight under after only 10 holes, which really affected my game,”  he said.

Phachara Khongwatmai in action (Pic credit: Asian Tour) 

On the leaderboard Phachara is being followed by his countryman Itthipat Buranatanyarat who holds the 1078^th rank in the official world golf rankings. He is at tied third position with five birdies and two eagles at hole 2^nd and 18^th. He played the first round of 64 with the score of 8 under par. There are four other players tied at third position with Itthipat. Towards the end Itthipat maintained his ranking at the leaderboard at tied third and finished with three birdies with a total of 67.

Itthipat Buranatanyarat during the final round (Pic Credit: Asian Tour)

Before this tour both Phachara and Itthipat had played at Royal Cup held in Thailand last week only. Itthipat had ranked at tied 12^th and Phachara was on tied 23^rd.  At Royal Cup Itthipat had a slow start with three bogeys and only three four birdies but till round four he had carded two eagles, 6 birdies and only one bogey. Even Phachara at the Royal Cup didn’t have such a good start with a double bogey in round one, but in round four he had carded one eagle and three birdies. Both these players are great at their game and it will be a treat to the eyes as they play in the upcoming rounds at the tournament.

American Sihwan Kim won the tournament and this was his maiden Asian Tour title. But these two Thai players Phachara and Itthipat surely gave him a tough competition for the first rank at the leaderboard at the International Thailand Series held at the Black Mountain Golf Club.