Nook Sukapan made her first appearance on the CLPG Tour since 2018 a memorable one on Friday as the Thai veteran closed with a three-under 69 to win the Straits Cup Ladies Classic by three strokes in Tianjin.

Fellow Thai Chakansim Khamborn (77) watched her four-stroke overnight lead evaporate over the first five holes at Tianjin Fortune Lake Golf Club, as 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 TLPGA Tour, the Chiang Rai native received 144,000 yuan ($21,478).

"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. It's really good. I am so proud of myself this week."

Xu Ying, a rookie pro from Zhuhai, Guangdong province, closed with a two-under 70 to finish runner-up, a 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, quickly got going with a birdie three at the first while playing in the final group. After a bogey four at the 185-yard third, she would birdie the next and pick up another shot at the seventh hole. A late birdie at the 344-yard 16th hole to get to 10-under would ultimately prove the difference as Xu would double-bogey the final hole.

"Actually, I didn't know that (I had won) because I had to focus on my game and what 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 shot and my mentality were really good. I tried to work really hard, but I still have more to do. I worked with my shot this week. I just tried to be smooth, not too rushed, just follow the game, follow the plan. Everything was good this week."

Xu said such co-sanctioned events between the two golf bodies ultimately benefit players on both sides.

"I've heard that courses on the TLPGA Tour are generally narrow, while the courses here are wider –definitely wider than those on the island. Players from both sides of the Strait can learn from each other and exchange experiences, which I believe is hugely beneficial for us. I also hope I'll have the chance to play on courses in Taiwan someday," said the Zhuhai teenager, a three-time winner on the CLPG Tour.

"It's been great to see some new faces and compete alongside them. That's a positive thing," said veteran Liu Wenbo, a four-time winner on the CLPG Tour. "I played in Taipei as an amateur back in 2018 and 2019 and I'm really looking forward to going back there to compete again."