Thai youngest gamer to declare professional occasion title
Pattaya: Teenager phenom Atthaya Thitikul ended up being the youngest recognized winner of an expert golf trip occasion with triumph at the inaugural Ladies European Thailand Champion the other day.
Atthaya Thitikul with the Ladies European Thailand Champion prize.
At 14 years, 4 months and 17 days, amateur Atthaya broke a record set by Canada’s Brooke Henderson when she won an occasion on the Canadian Women’s Trip in June 2012 aged 14 years, 9 months and 3 days.
With rounds of 70, 71, 70 and 72, the Thai schoolgirl, who turned 14 on Feb 20, won with an overall of five-under 283, 2 shots clear of Ana Menendez who carded a 75 at Phoenix Golf and Nation Club.
Atthaya, who likewise broke Lydia Ko’s record to end up being the youngest winner on the Ladies European Trip, stated: “It makes me feel really delighted therefore pleased with myself. This prize, I provide to Thailand and the Thai individuals.”
Henderson’s record for a male or female gamer was available in a 36-hole occasion, improving the mark by 2 days set by New Zealand’s Ko in January 2012 at the New South Wales Women’s Open.
Ko held the LET record, having actually won the 2013 New Zealand Open aged 15 years, 9 months and 17 days.
Due to Atthaya’s amateur status, the leading reward of EUR45,000 (around 1.7 million baht), nevertheless, went to second-placed Menendez, who had actually led after each of the very first 3 rounds and made her profession finest surface.
Australian Whitney Hillier, who is half-Thai, ended up third on two-under 286.
Another Thai Parinda Phokan (68) ended up joint 4th on 287 together with Germany’s Leticia Ras-Anderica (67) and Amy Boulden of Wales (73 ).
Ploychompoo Wirairungrueng (71) and Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro (74) made it 4 Thais in the leading 10 with their connected seventh-placed surfaces on 288.
Atthaya had actually formerly shown her huge capacity when she ended up connected for 37th in the current Honda LPGA Thailand occasion, which she played in simply a couple of days after her 14th birthday, on Feb 20.
She then got an invite to play in the inaugural LET occasion in Pattaya from the competition sponsor, the Sports Authority of Thailand. Her objective was to make it, gain experience and have a good time.
Nevertheless, her impressive skill was quickly on display screen once again when she shot an opening round of 70 to lie 2 strokes off the lead and after subsequent rounds of 71, 70, she was the only gamer in the field of 126 under par for each of the very first 3 rounds.
The last day started quite as normal for the lady nicknamed Jeen. Dressed up in white and blue, even the ribbons in her hair matched her attire.
Although there was a bogey on the very first hole, she had actually acquired a one-stroke lead after 4 holes and from that point looked unshakeable.
She acquired a two-stroke benefit with a birdie on the seventh. On a steamy day in Pattaya, the concern then ended up being if anybody else might capture her.
Amy Boulden attempted with a run of 3 straight birdies from the 11th, however a bogey on 16 ended her charge and she ended in a tie for 4th put on one-under 287.
Mendendez closed the space to a stroke with a birdie on 11, however Atthaya reacted with a birdie on hole 15, which offered her a two-stroke lead with 3 to play and both gamers closed with a run of 3 pars.
” I’m so delighted and pleased with myself. I did not look worried, however obviously I felt nerves on the very first tee and on the very first hole. I did not think of ball game. I devoted to every shot I struck and remained unwinded. My caddie assisted me a lot, not to believe excessive, to concentrate on my strategy and to prepare the tee shots and 2nd shots.
” My household do not play golf. When I was more youthful, aged 6, my dad informed me to play sport and he used tennis or golf and I viewed golf on television and I liked it.”
Second-placed Menendez stated: “Today, I’m dissatisfied, since I understand I might have done much better and my start was a little bad.
” There are great deals of positives to take and I will go house delighted. I’m anticipating the remainder of the year and I have actually made big strides from this year to in 2015, so I take pride in myself and my group.”
Hillier stated: “I just made 2 birdies today and I was so patient out there. I made absolutely nothing on the front 9 and after that lastly made a couple in the end. It was a strong video game and I was really delighted with that. I attempted to get myself back up there and I did. I have actually been working truly hard the last number of months too, however it does assist to have regional assistance, my mum and all of her pals cheering me on.”
Atthaya currently has large experience that many other children would value. Previously in June, she won the Taiwan Amateur Open after formerly being 2nd in the Queen Sirikit Cup in China. Her next huge competition is the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia next month.
