Singapore: Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana secured the biggest title of his fledgling career when he won the US$1.25 million SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club.

Sadom, the joint-overnight leader, fired a composed bogey-free 69 on The Serapong to finish on 13-under and beat Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa and Korean Kim Joo-hyung by three strokes.

Katsuragawa returned a 68 while Kim wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title after signing for 69. Kim Sih-wan, who started the day sharing the lead, carded a 73 to take fourth place.

All four players booked their tickets to this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews as the SMBC Singapore Open is part of the Open Qualifying Series.

Sadom produced another inspired display that confirmed his status as one of hottest young golfers in the region and a star of the future.

The 23-year-old was never really challenged on an extremely hot day. After Kim Sih-wan made bogey on the first, Sadom took the outright lead and did not look back. Birdies on six and seven saw him move three ahead and he calmly parred his way home and enjoyed the comfort of a three-shot lead playing 18.

He picked up a cheque for US$225,000 and finished the year in second place on the Merit list with earnings of US$378,972.

The victory continued Sadom’s remarkable recent run of form: in the final three months of last year, he won five times in Thailand, including the Thailand Open.

He’s won once before on the Asian Tour, at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open – which saw him become the fastest Qualifying School graduate to win on Tour as it was his first start after graduating.

“This is amazing. It wasn’t easy,” said Sadom, who was also bogey-free on Saturday, a rare feat over the award-winning layout at Sentosa Golf Club, a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation. “It has taken a lot of hard work to get here, especially over the last two years. This is a great way to start the year. I hope it’s the start of a great year.”

Kim Joo-hyung, aged 19, fought hard to catch him but it was not to be his day.

He said: “I was just trying to grind it out. I felt like I had a shot, but I couldn’t be so aggressive because I had The Open on the line as well. I just tried to play through my game and I felt like I didn’t have my 100% today and it’s pretty disappointing. But we learn, and hopefully come back stronger.”

At 19 years and 216 days, Kim is the second youngest winner of the coveted Merit title after compatriot Noh Seung-yul, who was 19 years and 204 days when he won in 2010.

The tournament’s star player, Paul Casey from England, produced his best performance of the week by shooting 66 to tie for 16th, while Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur sensation Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat closed with a 71 to finish equal 34th.

Koh Dengshan ended as the leading Singaporean after coming in with a 73 to tie 60th.

By being the top local player, he booked his place in the field for next month’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

The Asian Tour commences its 2022 season at the US$5 million Saudi event, which will be played at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club from February 3-6.

The top 30 players from today’s final Merit list have qualified for the event.

The SMBC Singapore Open was promoted by SPORTFIVE, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.