Chawalit secured the championship with a tap-in birdie, winning 170,000 baht at the SAT-NSDF Thai Senior Tour 4 at Alpine Chiang Mai.
The Thai professional senior golf tournament "SAT-NSDF Thai Senior Tour #4" featured a total prize fund of 1.5 million baht. The event was stroke play over three days and 54 holes, held from 1-3 Sep 2023 at Alpine Golf Resort in Chiang Mai, a par 72 course measuring 6,551 yards in Lamphun Province. On the final day, enthusiastic golf fans cheered as Mr. Suthin Darunyo-thin, President of the Thai Senior Professional Golfers Association; Mr. Shane Nakamura, CEO of the association and Shane Golfer Factory; and Mr. Nathat Sithikorn, General Manager of Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai, honored the winners and also awarded scholarships to local students.
Chawalit Pholaphol, a golfer from Bangkok who had just turned 52 on 31 August before the tournament, maintained a solid lead from the first day. Starting the final round on Thursday at tee 1, he bogeyed the par-3 3rd hole but bounced back with three birdies on holes 4, 5, and 7. His last nine holes remained strong with four more birdies on holes 10, 12, 15, and 18, with only one bogey at the par-4 14th due to a three-putt. He finished the round at 5-under-par 67, for a three-day total of 19-under-par 197. Notably, on the par-5 18th hole, he chipped from just off the green and tapped in for birdie, sealing the championship putt. This victory marks his successful defense of the title for the second consecutive year, having won last year with a total score of 15-under-par 201.
After the game, Chawalit revealed that over the past three days his drives were excellent, consistently landing on the fairway, and his iron shots were quite good. While he made a few mistakes, they were few and overall his performance was very strong. This is his second championship at this venue, and he hopes to defend his title again in the upcoming event in Phuket, which will also serve as a birthday celebration. He wishes for good health and expressed gratitude to the Sports Authority, the association, and all sponsors for a well-organized competition.
Finishing in second place was Nasitmutu Ramassamy from Malaysia. Starting at hole 1, he bogeyed the first hole but made two birdies on holes 4 and 6. In the last nine holes, he added three birdies on holes 10, 13, and 17, with only one bogey at the par-4 12th hole, finishing with a total score of 15-under-par 201.
Meanwhile, Udon Duangdecha from Chiang Mai claimed third place with a total score of 12-under-par 204. Former No. 1 on the Japan Senior Tour, Prayad Maksaeng, along with Thaworn Wiratchant, a multiple Asian Tour champion, and Apisit Nimnuan, all finished tied at 8-under-par 208, sharing fourth place. Rangsarn Raksomjit ended tied for seventh at 6-under-par 210, while Mardan Mamat from Singapore finished eighth with a total of 5-under-par 211.
Mr. Suthin Darunyo-thin, President of the Thai Senior Professional Golfers Association, stated that throughout the three days, the tournament faced no obstacles. He thanked all the golfers, the course, and sponsors for supporting the event. The next tournament will be held at Phuket Country Club in early December, and he encouraged everyone to prepare thoroughly.