Nontaya drives on to first victory

Fresh from testing out her new BMW 3-series car, Thailand's Nontaya Srisawang showed off her driving skills in the final round of the Thailand Ladies Open yesterday.

This time she used her club as she blazed around the Lakewood Country Club with eight birdies against one bogey to post a course record of 7-under 65 and win by a solitary stroke from South Korean Lee Eun-kyoung.

Nontaya shot a three-round total of 9-under 207, but her 65 yesterday broke another record as the lowest final-day score on the Ladies Asian Tour. Lee signed off with a 68 for a three-round total of 208 while her compatriot Kim Su-yeon shot 69 for third place with a total of 209. Kim had a final round score of 69.

Nontaya, 25, from Chiang Mai, also ended a dry run that's lasted since she turned professional in 2005.

"Good things are happening in my personal life and in my golf. Mum and dad presented me with a new car yesterday, and today I won this tournament and they are going to get some money too," said Nontaya, who pocketed US$22,500.

For round two leader Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai, it was a victory to finish tied with Kongkapan Patcharachutar for fourth, after losing her mother a week ago to brain cancer. " I believe her spirit will live in me and guide me," said an emotional Tanaporn.