Thai star ties Yang for lead at Pattaya occasion
Pattaya: Ariya Jutanugarn left to a perfect start in her quote to end up being the very first regional champ of the Honda LPGA Thailand the other day.
The world No. 2 shot a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to take a share of preliminary lead with Amy Yang of South Korea in the nation’s leading ladies’s golf occasion at Siam Nation Club.
Fresh from her joint 3rd location surface at the Women’s Australian Open on Sunday, the 21-year-old Thai benefited from the calm conditions in the afternoon to score 4 birdies on the front 9 (Nos. 4, 5, 7 and 8) prior to including 2 more on her method back (Nos. 11 and 17).
It likewise sets the Thai up for redemption on the course where she suffered a heartbreaking defeat in 2013 after losing her cool in the last round with 3 bogeys that required her into 2nd location.
Playing in a group ahead of Ariya, 2015 winner Yang ended up with back-to-back birdies to take a one-shot clubhouse lead prior to the Thai star matched her with a birdie at the par-four 17th.
With a possibility to take a straight-out lead at the par-five closing hole, Ariya just handled a par however the Thai was certainly thrilled with her total efficiency.
Safeguarding champ Lexi Thompson.
” I feel truly excellent with my iron today,” Ariya stated. “Particularly tee shot is respectable. I simply attempt to provide myself a possibility to make birdie.”
Self-confidence should not be an issue for Ariya following a fantastic 2016 season throughout which she got 5 triumphes consisting of the Women’s British Open, and likewise took the Gamer of the Year award, Race to CME World and the cash title.
Having her mom cheering her on and with sibling Moriya likewise completing today, Ariya stated the assistance from the crowd made it additional unique.
” It feels fantastic. I feel grateful to be here. All the fans, they attempt to support all the Thai golf players here,” stated Ariya.
Yang likewise had numerous factors to be pleased about her go back to the Thai resort town where she won the title a number of years earlier.
” It’s good to be back once again. I like pertaining to Thailand to play,” stated Yang. “I was striking it respectable out there.
” The last number of holes I was striking it so strong. I was focusing on the pin and it was going right at the pin, you understand,” included the Korean whose round consisted of 7 birdies and a bogey.
World No. 1 Lydia Ko. Pattanapong Hirunard
A triple birdie surface saw China’s Feng Shanshan reach joint 3rd location together with Ryann O’Toole of the United States, South Korea’s Kim Sei-Young and Australia’s Minjee Lee on five-under 67.
American safeguarding champ Lexi Thompson, on the other hand, started her defence with a four-under 68 for connected seventh, while world No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand opened with a two-under 70, gathering 5 birdies versus 3 bogeys, for joint 22nd.
Ariya’s sibling Moriya was the 2nd finest Thai after carding a three-under 69 to connect for 11th, while another regional hope Pornanong Phatlum, who shot a 71, remained in a group connected for 27th that consisted of Jang Ha-Na, winner of the Australian Open in Adelaide.
Ariya will tee off with Yang and Kim Sei-Yong, beginning at 11.50 am today, while Ko, Chun In-Gee and Lee Mi-Rim will begin at 10.14 am. Thompson will tee off with Karine Icher and Azahara Munoz at 11.14 am.
CHARITY NIGHT
The golf players participated in the Charity Night, hosted by the competition organisers, on Wednesday night and a few of their individual products were auctioned off to raise cash for Chaipattana Structure and other charity activities.
Amongst noteworthy products consisted of a golf bag with autographs from the golf players that raised 250,000 baht, a putter coming from Ariya brought 120,000 baht and Lydia Ko’s Olympic Games t-shirt and flag chose 90,000 baht.
Putters of 2013 champ Park In-Bee and Lexi Thompson generated 80,000 and 65,000 baht respectively.
PRAYAD BLAZES A TRAIL
Prayad Marksaeng shot a bogey-free nine-under 63 to take the preliminary lead at the Singha E-San Open at the par-72 Singha Park Khonkaen Golf Club in Khon Kaen the other day.
The 51-year-old Hua Hin local was 2 shots ahead of Namchok Tantipokhakul and Gunn Charoenkul.
An additional stroke back were Udorn Duangdecha, Nirun Sae-Ueng and Nattawat Suvajanakorn.
The three-million-baht competition is the opening occasion of the 2017 All Thailand Golf Trip.
