Wichanee Meechai from Thailand outlasted compatriot Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul in the first play-off hole and came out on top in the 2015 Yeangder TLPGA Open for her first career TLPGA Tour win. Meechai carded a 1-over 73 today and Muangkhumsakul posted a low-round 3-under 69, both finishing at 213, to force a play-off as they came back to the 18th tee. Not letting the victory slip from her grasp, Meechai sank a winning birdie putt from 10 feet and ultimately walked away with a NT$600,000 winner check.

The low amateur honor also had to be decided through the play-offs. 14-year-old Chang Ya-Chun (張雅淳) made par three times in a row on 18th (two in the sudden-death play-off), just edging 15-year-old Yu Han-Hsuan (俞涵軒). Chang and Yu wrapped up the event both at 2-over-par 218 which takes them into a tie for eighth on the overall leaderboard.

This is Meechai’s third year on the professional tour, and the win at the Yeangder TLPGA Open is a fourth career win, and second this season after sealing the title in the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Invitational last month on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour. “It feels amazing, I am just really, really happy,” said a teary 22-year-old Meechai. “The win means so much to me. There have been a lot of ups and downs over the past years, and there have been so many times that I was so close. I think the fact that I’ve lost my last four play-offs to come in second makes it even more special.”

Meechai finished T4s in the TLPGA Taifong Ladies Open in January and in the LET (Ladies European Tour) and China LPGA Tour co-sanctioned Buick Championship in Shanghai last week. “Deep down I know I’ve grown and improved a lot as a player coming into 2015, my game is in a pretty good shape, and I’ve been waiting for a big moment like this, but five months in, it just didn’t really happen,” Meechai said. “I am just really excited to have this opportunity today, and to be able to fight until the last minute.”

“I know my dad will be as happy as I am. I want to thank him for taking me into golf when I was just six.” Meechai’s father works currently as a senior event supervisor on the Asian Tour.

Co-leader with Meechai coming into today, former TLPGA No.1 Lu Ya-Huei (呂雅惠)’s elbow pain again proved to be too distracting. Lu made a deadly triple-bogey on Hole 7 where she dumped a second shot out of bound and added another two bogeys on the front nine, leaving herself out of the contender circle.

“The (right) elbow has long been a problem. It’s not a big one but it is there,” said Lu. “I don’t think I can afford being completely away from golf for a period, which is the only way it has a chance to be healed. So here I’m trying my best to take care of it while still playing. At the same time, I’ve been really focusing on a few workouts to improve the strength and support in the muscle.”

Lu carded a final-round 77 and finished at 217, tying Yeh Hsin-Ning (葉欣寧) and Shih Huei-Ju (石惠如) for fifth. Standing ahead of them at the third and fourth place are Japan’s Kumi Uchiyama and another Thai player Pennapa Pulsawath respectively.