Ex-SEAG champ bags crown

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines – Natipong Srithong of Thailand, only in his second month as a pro, shot a five-under-par 67 then got all the breaks he needed yesterday to rule the $1 million Resorts World Manila Masters.

The 21-year-old Natipong started the day four shots behind erstwhile leader Hung Chien-yao of Taipei. But he slowly made his move, and by the 16th hole, he joined Hung and Jbe Kruger of South Africa in the lead.

Natipong, a law student and the reigning SEA Games individual champion, relied on birdies on Nos. 6, 7, 9, 12, 15 and 17 to score the come-from-behind victory and nail his first Asian Tour title.

After tapping in for par on the 18th hole, Natipong walked straight to the scorer’s tent, and hoped for the best.

By that time, he was tied for the lead with Hung, who scored a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th. The Taiwanese, a steady 23-year-old, had the chance to win it all with a birdie on the par-5 closing hole.

But it was not meant to be.

Natipong sat on a chair and watched on television as Hung sent his drive into a lateral water hazard. The Taiwanese played out into the fairway bunker of the adjacent 16th hole, tried to recover with his third and fourth shots and was on in five for a double bogey.

“Hopefully I can do better next time.” said Hung.

Kruger, the only player who had the chance to force a playoff, missed an eagle on the 18th by an inch.

Only then did Natipong start to celebrate.

“I was nervous,” said the young golfer, the son of a Supreme Court judge in Thailand. In the end, he won with a 273 total, a shot ahead of Kruger who closed out with a 71.

Kruger was 16-under for the tournament after his eighth hole, and three shots ahead of his closest pursuers. But he got into trouble in the ninth and 10th holes and spent the rest of the day trying to hold on.

“If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be,” he said.

Lee Chieh-po, also of Taipei, ended tied for third with Hung at 275 with 70 and 73, respectively. Tied for fifth at 276 were Rahil Ganjee of India (68), Chan Kim of the United States (68), Prom Meesawat of Thailand (69) and Carlos Pigem of Spain (70).

Miguel Tabuena shot a 70 while Angelo Que matched par 72 as they emerged the Filipino finishers in the event hosted by the Manila Southwoods at 280. Each got $10,935.