Richard GwinPornvipa “Faii” Sakdee, who finished in the top 20 of four golf tournaments her freshman year at Kansas University, claimed her first collegiate title Tuesday at Alvamar.
Sakdee, a sophomore from Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand, followed Monday’s rounds of 70 and 73 with a final-round 73 on Tuesday — good for even-par 216 — and claimed a three-stroke victory over Central Arkansas’ Fernanda Lira at the 2014 Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational.
KU’s Yupaporn Kawinpakorn slipped to a final-day 79 and tied for fifth with teammate Michelle Woods (76) at 6-over 222.
“I feel so happy. I’m glad I won. I wasn’t thinking about score or anything. I tried to focus within myself,” Sakdee said. “Today I putted well. My approach shots were good.”
In the team standings, Kansas State, which entered the final round six strokes behind KU, wound up defeating the runner-up Jayhawks by six strokes in the 11-team tourney.
Richard Gwin“Today was a tough day, and obviously we are a little disappointed,” KU coach Erin O’Neil said. “We were leading going in and gave some shots away, but we learned a lot. I think it’s good to do it on the front end and figure out what we need to learn and adjust. We have a talented young group, so I just think we need to learn how to handle that pressure going forward. It was a good experience for us.”
Of Sakdee, she said: “Faii played great every round, played steady, made lots of birdies, which always helps. She’s a true competitor. It’s her first win. She’s a very talented player. I could see her winning many more in the coming years.”
