Thai student fires record 66 on way to Faldo Series honours

Mon, 14 July 2014

H S Manjunath

 

Thailand’s rising star Putt Sridama shot a blistering second round 66 to set a new course record at the Nick Faldo-designed Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap yesterday, on his way to the overall championship in the Cambodian leg of the Faldo Series Asia, hosted by the Kingdom for the third straight year.
“I was very lucky today especially with my long putts,” said Sridama, who remained absolutely cool and calm on the links as he craftily poached seven birdies in that record score.

Faldo Series Asia Cambodia champion Putt Sridama of Thailand collects his winner's medal from Angkor Golf Resort director David Baron yesterday. Photo supplied

 

 

His only blemish, if it can be called that, was a bogey in an otherwise spotless day that followed his rather sedate first round 73.
Sridama’s 36-hole total of 139 netted the 10th-grade student both the U16 Boys title and the overall championship ahead of his compatriot Korapat Dhanvarjor, who produced a fiery 69 on the top his first round 74 for a two-round 143.

The two totally dominated an 11-player all-Thailand field to book their places in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen next March.
“I am looking forward to Mission Hills. I played there last year. It is a very difficult course, but I hope to do well this year,” Sridama, who has an impressive +2 handicap, told the Post.

Last year’s overall champion in Cambodia, Watcharasit Trachuentong of Thailand, had to rest content with the U21 Boys title. He carded 74 and 76 for a combined 150 that gave him victory by just one stroke over Channut Buntavong in a field of only four players, including two Cambodians, Thong Sokhamony and Peou Pichmeta, both of whom finished well behind the Thai pair.

However, there was still a silver lining in that dark cloud for Sokhamony, who managed to get a ticket to the Mission Hills Grand Final gave the best performance among the Cambodian trio in the fray, which also included 14-year-old Tevy Saroueun in the girls category.
A good second-round performance of 81 took Sokhamony to a 168 total, which was the closest to the winning score within his group.

The combined U16 and U18 Girls event produced a tight finish with the Thai pair of Kanokwan Yoddamnern and Jidapa Phongthanachalitkun tied with identical rounds of 72 and 71 for a total of 143. But a superior back nine score helped Yoddamnern pick up the top prize, though both of them qualified for the Asia Grand Final.
Meanwhile, South Korean 10-year-old Jang Chongwi bagged the youngest competitor recognition award.
AGR director of golf David Baron, who distributed the trophies to the qualifiers, earlier in the day conducted a grassroots clinic for 18 boys and girls from local charity organisation Build Your Future Today.