In the largest sudden-death play-off in the TLPGA Tour history featuring six players, 23-year-old Thai Chorphaka Jaengkit made a clutch par putt on the second play-off hole to take her first career victory and a biggest paycheck worth NT$450,000.

Taiwan’s Huang Ching (黃靖) was the last player standing in Jaengkit way. Her campaign ended when her downhill par putt from four feet lipped out. She finished equal second with other four players competing in the play-off, compatriots Chen Yu-Ju (陳宇茹), Yeh Hsin-Ning (葉欣寧) and Thailand’s Titiya Plucksataporn and Nattagate Nimitpongkul, each taking a runner-up prize of NT$127,600.

Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan won the low amateur honor after posting a 73 to finish at 218 and equal tenth.

Overnight leader Chen struggled on the final Friday to shoot a 6-over 78. Starting just two shots off, Jaengkit also appeared far from the self that fired seven birdies yesterday and closed with a 76. The duo dropped to 1-under total, fortunately, finding themselves still in the hopes of winning as they were in the midst of a six-way tie that would be going into a play-off with the most players ever in a TLPGA Tour event.

The six were randomly drawn into two groups of three. Nimitpongkul, who carded a low-round 70 in regulation, Yeh, who had a 72, and Huang played in the first group. Jaengkit, playing partner Chen, and Plucksataporn, who closed with a 73, went in the second group. The winner from each group would face off for the trophy.

The players headed back to the par-4 ninth at the Chang Gung golf course. Huang went first on the green for a 7-foot birdie chance; calmly made it. Yeh and Nimitpongkul, despite having stuck it just six feet from the hole, failed to convert, which sent Huang into the second-stage play-off.

In the other group, Jaengkit breezed a perfect approach into tap-in range and secured the birdie. Plucksataporn missed hers from 20 feet, and meanwhile, Chen finally put the ball on the green after spending three shots already. Both conceded their putts and made way for Jaengkit.

Jaengkit and Huang returned to the ninth hole for the third time. Huang knocked her ball to 17 feet. But her birdie putt rolled aggressively past four feet, leaving an awkward, slippery downhill putt for par. Jaengkit, with the initiative in her hands, almost holed out from 10 feet in her third shot to put the pressure all back on Huang.

The line looked about just right before a final break that pushed the ball left. It was a bogey for Huang. Jaengkit came up, took her stance, tapped for par. Her fellow Thai players and friends burst into cheers, spraying water to celebrate, leaving a cruel contrast to the silence of local spectators and the disappointment on Huang’s face.

Both were seeking their first professional win.

“I’m really happy,” said Jaengkit, a Grand Canyon University graduate and a Mini Tour titlist in the U.S.. “I had many chances to win in regulation but finally I could stay patient and made some great shots in the play-off. It feels amazing.”

Jaengkit missed a 2-footer to go up early on the 13th but captured the second chance coming as she picked up a birdie on the par-5 16th. She remained in sole lead by one coming onto the last hole, where she hit both her first and second shot to the left, settling just off the green. Jaengkit’s pitch on the third went 14 feet too far before she failed her par putt, giving life to the other five players.

Jaengkit finally responded strongly in the play-offs. This is just her third event on the TLPGA Tour.

Chen again saw a victory slip, having also missed a seemingly comfortable lead in last year’s Hong Kong Ladies Open. “The putting beat me today,” said Chen, who needed 35 putts through regular 18. “I kind of over-practiced on my new swing and it caught up with me. I felt a little flat. Simply just disappointed.” Chen made six bogeys to no birdie.

The Chungyuet Group Ladies Open marks the first partnership and title-sponsorship by the Chungyuet Group on the TLPGA Tour. This is an event officially recognized in the WWGR (Women’s World Golf Rankings) system.