Rising Thai star Nitithorn Thippong won the Asian Tour's inaugural International Series Singapore after an exciting final day at Tanah Merah Country Club's Tampines Course.

The 25-year-old carded a closing 69 to triumph with a 16-under-par total, one shot ahead of compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai (71), Malaysia's Gavin Green (71) and Canada's Richard T. Lee (67).

This was Thippong's second Asian Tour title following his win in this year's DGC Open in India. He also has two victories on the Asian Development Tour, including the 2018 PGM Penang Championship at Bukit Jawi Golf Resort.

After holing a pressure-packed 15-foot par putt on the par-five 18th to take the clubhouse lead, Thippong had to wait and see if anyone in the last group – consisting of Green, Khongwatmai and Chinese Taipei's Chan Shih-Chang – could catch him. It proved to be a much longer wait than expected due to a 40-minute lightning delay, with Chan on 16-under and Green one back.

When the action resumed, Chan - who just before the delay had found water with his tee shot - made double bogey while Green narrowly missed a 15-foot birdie putt.

“This is fantastic, just fantastic,” said Thippong, who earned a cheque for US$270,000.

“I cannot describe my feelings right now. I have practiced so hard for this. I hit lot of greens this week and had a lot of birdie putts. I think my mentality was great. I did not think about the score, just the process.”

Green did well to recover from a nervy start, which saw him play the first four holes in four-over-par, to sign in a 71. The 2017 Asian Tour No 1 had led the USD1.5 million event by three shots after 36 holes and co-led going into the last round with Khongwatmai.

"I got off to a horrendous start and just kind of clicked the reset button and kept going," said Green, who is chasing his second Asian Tour title after the 2017 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Chan, a four-time Asian Tour winner, settled for T5 on 14-under-par with Australia's Todd Sinnott who closed with a superb 64.

Top local honours went to James Leow in T31 spot on eight-under-par after a final round 68, three ahead of fellow Singapore amateur Hiroshi Tai (73) in T44 position. Veteran Singapore professional Madan Mamat signed off with a 72 to finish T63 on two-under-par.

Malaysia's Ben Leong closed his campaign with a solid 67 for T12 spot on 11-under-par.

American Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, also shot 67 and finished T31 on eight-under-par.

Results (Top 10 and ties)
272 - Nitithorn Thippong (THA) 68-67-68-69
273 - Richard T. Lee (CAN) 70-69-67-67, Gavin Green (MAS) 65-65-72-71, Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 67-66-69-71
274 - Todd Sinnott (AUS) 68-70-72-64, Chan Shih-chang (TPE) 69-68-66-71
276 - Jarin Todd (USA) 74-67-68-67, Ryo Hisatsune (JPN) 70-69-68-69, Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN) 70-70-67-69, Jaco Ahlers (RSA) 70-66-69-71, Peter Uihlein (USA) 68-70-67-71