Taipei: Thai golfer Suteepat Prateeptienchai made history on November 17, 2024, by becoming the first player in seven years to defend an Asian Tour title, winning the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open with a dramatic one-stroke victory at the Taifong Golf Club. Suteepat’s win marked a significant milestone in his career, showcasing his consistency and resilience under pressure.
Suteepat sealed his victory with a birdie on the 18th hole, narrowly edging out his compatriot Runchanapong Youprayong, who missed a crucial 10-foot putt to force a playoff. The final day was marked by intense competition, with Suteepat carding a four-under-par 68 to finish 22-under for the tournament. His rival Runchanapong shot a 69, finishing just one stroke behind.
Reflecting on his performance, Suteepat admitted that an early bogey on the sixth hole frustrated him but also ignited a series of strong plays. “That bogey made me really angry. It fired me up, and then I started making birdies,” he said. His remarkable streak included three consecutive birdies from the seventh hole and another on the 11th, briefly giving him a two-shot lead before Runchanapong rallied with birdies on the 15th and 17th.
This victory solidified Suteepat’s standing on the Asian Tour, moving him to fifth in the Order of Merit and earning him $72,000 in prize money. It also secured a three-year exemption on the tour and brought him closer to becoming the first foreigner to win the Taiwan PGA Merit List. His dominance at Taifong Golf Club is well-established; he previously won the Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei and consistently delivered strong performances in the Taiwan circuit.
Runchanapong, just 23 years old and in his second year as a professional, demonstrated impressive composure despite narrowly missing out on his first Asian Tour title. “I thought I handled the pressure well, even though I didn’t have my A game,” he said, expressing optimism about his future.
Other notable performances included Hung Chien-yao of Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, who tied for third, four strokes behind the champion. The tournament concluded as a prelude to the Asian Tour’s high-stakes finale, with upcoming events including the Link Hong Kong Open, the International Series Qatar, and the PIF Saudi International.
The Taifong Open’s 2024 edition also commemorated Suteepat’s legacy as the first player to defend the title, a feat not achieved on the Asian Tour since India’s SSP Chawrasia defended the Hero Indian Open in 2017. Officials and fans alike celebrated the event as a testament to the growing prominence of golf in Asia and its bright future.
