Thai golfer Tirawat Kaewsiribandit has won the first international golf event to be held in Pakistan in 11 years.
A field of 132 players from around the world competed in the Asian Tour’s UMA CNS Open Championship at Karachi Golf Club on October 14, as the country continues its effort to attract international sporting events.
“The winning shot was the toughest of all; I didn’t want to go for a playoff after a bumpy day going up and down,” said the winner Tirawat Kaewsiribandit from Thailand who came up from the third spot on the last day to win the UMA-CNS Asian Tour Open Golf Championship at the Karachi Golf Club on Sunday.
Tirawat who was able to hit only three birdies, but he found his way to the top by avoiding bogeys as he scored a three-under-par (69) on the final day to end with an aggregate of 12-under-par (276).
“My day went well. I had some ups and downs. The other fellow golfers were coming up, but I had one thing in mind that I want to score as many birdies as I can and avoid bogeys,” he told The Express Tribune.
“The championship was very well organised. The arrangements were really good and the course was also well maintained. It was tough to play but we got the hold of it after two days and from that day I didn’t lose my focus,” he added.
A hot morning didn’t go in favour of Thailand’s Namchok Tantipokhakul, who was leading the table on the first three days. “I was not able to get the first tee right; I lost my focus. The start of the day matters a lot and has an effect on all the other holes.”
Namchok, who struck a birdie on the third hole, faced a bogey on the fourth and double bogey on the sixth hole, and remained under pressure on all the next holes. He hit only one birdie on the 13th hole. He finished the final day with one-over-par (73) to end the event with 11-under-par (277).
“I was not able to focus on the tee. The first shot on every hole was not what I wanted. Still I managed to keep myself up. The bogey and then the double bogey was the turning point. I didn’t want to go for the birdies and focused on keeping it par. It feels really bad to lead the first three days and lose the top position on the final day, still I am happy that my compatriot won the title,” he said.
The other Thai golfer, who tied on the second place with Namchok, Jakraphan Premsirigorn, was leading the final round until he hit a double bogey on the 13th hole following a tee shot that went in the water hazard.
“That shot cost me the top position. Then the 18th hole shot that went away in the greens. I lost my grip on both the tees. I wish I had gained the top position but still I am happy that Tirawat won. We all play together back home so it was like we won the title,” he said.
Talking about the weather conditions and his experience in Karachi he said: “The weather was hot but we had to play and we did. It took time to adjust with the weather but we did. The food here was the best, it was a bit spicy but the taste was really good. The people here are really welcoming and loving. Also the local golfers have really good talent.”
Meanwhile, Muhammad Munir who came up from sixth to the fourth spot by hitting four straight birdies on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th hole had a score of 11-under-par till the 15th hole, where he hit a bogey. He ended with four-under-par (68) on the final round to end with 10-under-par (278).
“I was confident that I will win but then that bogey turned the game. Still we had a good tournament and it was a good experience for the local golfers to play with international golfers,” he said.
Chief guest Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi NI(M) distributed the prizes among the winners.
“Coming back to Pakistan is a fantastic opportunity for us,” Robert Andrew, event director of the Asian Tour, stated before the start of the tournament.
“This is the starting point for future years after the success of this event,” he added.
