Tianjin, China: Nook Sukapan made her first appearance on the CLPG Tour since 2018 a memorable one as the Thai veteran closed with a three-under 69 to win the Straits Cup Ladies Classic. In the process, she ended a two-year winless streak.

As fellow-Thai Chakansim Khamborn (77) watched her four-stroke overnight lead evaporate over the first five holes at Tianjin Fortune Lake Golf Club (C and D courses), 28-year-old Nook held steady to capture her third CLPG Tour title, her first since winning twice in 2015.

For her winning score of 10-under 206 at the tournament that featured a field made up of CLPG Tour regulars and their counterparts from the Taiwan LPGA Tour, the Chiang Rai native received RMB144,000.

“This (win) really means a lot to me,” said Nook who captured her 11th tournament win around the region since turning pro in 2014. “I really work hard at every tournament. I keep learning. I keep practicing more and more. I am so proud of myself this week.”

Xu Ying, the rookie pro from Zhuhai, closed with a two-under 70 to finish runner-up, one stroke ahead of Thai Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (71), Chinese-Taipei’s Huang Ting-hsuan (72) and Chakansim who were equal third, four strokes back.

Nook, who started the day four shots off the lead, got going with a birdie at the first while playing in the final group. After a bogey four at the 185-yard third, she birdied the next and picked up another shot at the seventh. Another gain at the 344-yard 16th got her to 10-under. Xu then ran up a double-bogey at the final hole to extend the Thai’s winning margin to three.

“Actually, I didn’t know (I won) because I had to focus on my game and how I am going to do. I think I knew when I walked to the green on the last hole,” said Nook who ended a winless streak dating back to 2024 when she last won on the Thai domestic Tour.

“This week my shots and my mentality were really good. I just tried to be smooth, not too rushed, just follow the game, follow the plan. Everything was excellent this week,” she added.

Xu, who started the day six shots back, came out firing with four birdies over the first seven holes to briefly grab a share of the lead at nine-under. After a bogey-five at 13, she rebounded with a birdie at the par-five next. Needing a birdie at the last to force a play-off with Nook, the teenager found water on her tee shot resulting in a penalty stroke.

“I felt I played really well on the front nine. I capitalised on a lot of opportunities. Although I wasn’t hitting it exceptionally close, my putting stroke felt consistent and reliable. The only downside was that I didn’t create enough chances on the back nine,” said 17-year-old Xu, a three-time winner on the CLPG Tour.

CLPG Tour points ranking leader Ren Yijia closed with an even-par 72 to finish equal ninth, six strokes back. Tang Luoqi (71) was the top amateur two shots further back. First-round leader An Zining struggled to a 77 to finish on even-par at the tournament which was created to promote cross-Straits friendship.