Atthaya Thitikul is utilized to setting brand-new records and has actually been among the fastest-rising golf players over the previous couple of years.
The 16-year-old from Ratchaburi ended up being the world’s No. 1 amateur golf player on Wednesday, going up 4 locations to surpass American Andrea Lee.
The accomplishment followed her win at the Ladies European Thailand Champion in Pattaya last Sunday.
She is Thailand’s first-ever gamer, male or woman, to arrive of the world amateur rankings.
” Definitely, I am really delighted to be the world No. 1,” she stated.
Jeen postures with the Ladies European Thailand Champion prize in 2017.
Nicknamed Jeen or Jeeno, Atthaya easily beat a few of the very best experts from the Ladies European Trip (LET) for her success in the world-renowned seaside resort town with a competition record rating of 22-under 266.
Her rating of nine-under 63 in the 3rd round was one stroke much better than the previous course record, an eight-under 63 tape-recorded by Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe in the 3rd round of the 2018 Queen’s Cup.
Exceptionally, the very best 18-hole rating of her young amateur profession up until now was a final-round 12-under-par 60 in in 2015’s World Junior Girls’ Championships in Canada.
The teen holds the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific prize in 2015.
Atthaya ended up 5 shots ahead of Germany’s Esther Henseleit at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Nation Club last Sunday, having actually constructed a commanding eight-stroke benefit after 3 rounds.
With the accomplishment, she ended up being the youngest-ever gamer to declare 2 LET titles at 16 years, 4 months and 3 days.
2 years back, she won the inaugural Ladies European Thailand Champion at the very same course and ended up being the youngest-ever gamer to win in an expert occasion on a significant trip.
” It feels unbelievable,” Atthaya stated last Sunday.
” Given that I won this competition 2 years ago I have actually kept striving and I have actually grown in self-confidence.” Youth Olympic champs Atthaya and Vanchai Luangnitikul. Apichit Jinakul
Her increase on the global phase started in 2017 when she was welcomed to dip into the Honda LPGA Thailand and ended up 37th out of 66 rivals that consisted of a few of the world’s leading woman gamers.
She then won the Ladies European Thailand Champion and dipped into the Women’s British Open and the Evian Champion.
She likewise swept the private and group gold medals at the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.
Atthaya and Kanes Nitiwanakul with the Smyth Salver prize at the 2018 Women’s British Open.
In 2018, she was crowned champ of the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Champion in Singapore after winning a four-way play-off.
With the accomplishment, she got a ticket to the HSBC Women’s Champions hung on the very same course the following week and ended up eighth in the LPGA Trip occasion.
Youth Olympic champs Atthaya and Vanchai Luangnitikul. (Picture by Apichit Jinakul)
She went on to end up being the low amateur at the ANA Motivation and declared the the Smyth Salver as the leading amateur at the Women’s British Open.
Following a not successful project at the Asian Games in Indonesia, Atthaya recovered by winning the gold medal in the blended group occasion at the Youth Olympics in Argentina with Vanchai Luangnitikul.
It was Atthaya who led the group to magnificence with 2 birdies in the last 2 holes.
” I believed we were heading for the silver medal,” Vanchai stated after the triumph.
” Jeen is the hero.”
Regardless of her swift increase, Atthaya confesses that there is still space for enhancement, especially in her brief video game and cracking.
Her household desired her to turn expert in 2015 however she wished to progress prior to betting cash.
” I believed my video game was still unsatisfactory, so I informed them to await another year so that I might enhance my video game and get more self-confidence,” she stated.
” At the minute, I do not feel anxious betting the pros. However when I choose to turn professional, I wish to be a competitor for the title and not simply for the sake of playing. I do not wish to be an expert and after that lose my playing rights.
” I now feel I am a much better golf player. Nevertheless, there are still lots of elements to think about. Next year might be a great time for me to turn professional.”
Amongst those who have actually followed Atthaya’s increase carefully is Kanes Nitiwanakul, the director of group advancement at the Thailand Golf Association (TGA).
” The secret to her success if she is constantly delighted and delights in the video game. She constantly plays according to strategies,” he stated.
” Atthaya is a fast student and strong psychologically. She has actually made quick development and seldom reveals anxiety on the course.”
According to Kanes, given that signing up with the Thai nationwide group 3 years back, Atthaya has actually won 18 of 19 TGA ranking competitions she participated in.
In truth, she won all her very first 14 competitions.
” Her outcomes are remarkable. I ‘d state that she is a genius,” Kanes stated.
Kanes stated Atthaya’s nine-shot win at the 2017 Taiwan Amateur Open improved her self-confidence.
Atthaya and Kanes Nitiwanakul with the Smyth Salver prize at the 2018 Women’s British Open.
After her very first accomplishment at the Ladies European Thailand Champion, she carded a course record nine-under-par last round to win the Junior Dutch Open by 8 shots with a competition record rating of 20-under 268.
Atthaya, centre, and her colleagues commemorate with their gold medals at the 2017 SEA Games. credit
At the 2018 World Junior Girls’ Champion in Canada, she was 8 shots off the rate after 3 round however handled to win by 2 strokes after shooting a course record 12-under-par last round.
” I believe her finest is yet to come,” Kanes stated.
Thanks to her win in Pattaya last Sunday, Atthaya has actually made berths at the Evian Champion (July 25-28) and the Women’s British Open (Aug 1-4).
Regrettably, she will not be dipping into the Evian due to the fact that she has actually gone into a competition in Japan.
” I need to honour my guarantee,” she stated.
At the Japan competition, she will protect her amateur title at the Women’s British Open at Woburn.
Atthaya, centre, and her colleagues commemorate with their gold medals at the 2017 SEA Games.
Inquired about her prepare for the remainder of the year, Atthaya stated she will participate in the SEA Games in the Philippines and after that sign up with the LPGA Q-school.
Atthaya is anticipated to end up being Thailand’s next playing golf super star and follow in the steps of previous world No. 1 and two-time significant champ Ariya Jutanugarn, who has actually up until now bagged 10 LPGA Trip wins.
