Nitithorn Thippong Wins The 2023 Indonesia Open Golf Tournament

JAKARTA - Nitithorn Thippong won the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023. The Thai golfer collected 270 punches or 18 under the par for four days, scoring 72 punches or pars in the final match at Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Sunday (6/8). Indonesian golfer Gabrielmen Hari became amateur champion.

Wow, amazing! I feel so happy about this win. Over the past few weeks I haven't felt confident like I am now, but after a few weeks earlier, and then coming here, I can find my swing again. I got a good feeling and brought it into this tournament. Now I feel better, great! " said Nitithorn, who is currently 26 years old.

This victory is the third for him at the Asian Tour. Last year he won at The DGC Open presented by Master Card and the International Series Singapore.

In addition to playing focus, Nitithorn explained that the presence of the little man, Thirdpong Prateepthong, played a major role in this victory. He admitted that he was nervous in facing the last day of the match.

I like to do meditation and it's a lot of fun to deal with nervousness. I'm also grateful to be accompanied by a little man who can calm me down. He is a friend of my father and our neighbors," said the golfer nicknamed 'Fever'.

He promised to return next year to defend his title at the Indonesia Open, the most historic professional golf tournament in Indonesia.

After ending his game at hole 18, he was immediately greeted by his compatriots. They watered it with beer as a form of celebration for Nitithorn's victory. As champions, Nitithorn received a prize money of 90 thousand US dollars, or almost Rp. 1.4 billion from a total of 500 thousand US dollars up for grabs at the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2023.

Australian golfer Scott Hend is ranked T2 along with Steve Lewton (England), and Lee Chieh-po (Taipei). They each collected 272 punches or 16 under the par and received a prize money of 37,166 US dollars. The position of T5 is occupied by Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Thailand), Yongjung Bae and Mingyu Cho (South Korea), as well as Chang Wei-Lun (Taipei) with 274 punches or 14 under the par.

Gabriel Total Hari, an amateur golfer who is also an athlete of the Indonesian national team, occupies the next position, namely T9ies with Sarit Suwannarut (Thailand). They each collected 275 punches or 13 under the par.

The results achieved were the best compared to the four Indonesian professional golfers who passed the cut-off, namely Jonathan Wijono, Kevin Caesario Akbar, Nasin Surachman, and Elki Kow.