Kuala Lumpur: Kasidit Lepkurte of Thailand maintained his composure to close with a two-under-par 70 and win his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the PGM MIDF Championship yesterday.
The 26-year-old Kasidit, who held a three-shot lead heading into the final round, traded three birdies against one bogey to win by three shots on 12-under 276 total at the Templer Park Country Club.
Thailand's Pannakorn Uthaipas, who had led the first two rounds, matched Kasidit's efforts of a 70 to settle for second place.
Shariffuddin Ariffin emerged as the highest-placed Malaysian after marking his best round of the week with a 66. He grabbed a share of third place with Thailand's Nattawat Suvajanakorn and South African Mathaim Keyser, who returned with matching 69s.
"I never really felt the pressure as at the back of my mind, I knew I have a three-shot cushion at the start of the round," said a jubilant Kasidit. "But it was after the birdie on the ninth when I felt really confident about winning the tournament."
Kasidit joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2015 and he has enjoyed a top-10 finish last month prior to his win.
"I kept it simple; just aiming for fairways and greens. I am really happy about the way I putted," added Kasidit.
Despite missing out on his second ADT title, Pannakorn's runner-up finish was enough to help him regain the lead on the Order of Merit.
