THAILAND EYE FOUR-GOLD SWEEP
Talented teen Atthaya will lead the Kingdom’s bid for women’s titles, but men’s squad selected for the 2019 SEA Games are relatively inexperienced for the mission, writes Kittipong Thongsombat
The Thailand Golf Association aims to make a clean sweep of four gold medals at the SEA Games in the Philippines in December.
The men’s team will be led by US-based Thanapat Pichaikul who is studying at Mississippi State University.
The women’s squad will be spearheaded by Atthaya Thitikul who won both team and individual titles at the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.
The other men’s players are Denwit David Boriboonsub, Vanchai Luangnitikul and Nopparat Panichpol, while Atthaya’s teammates are Kan Bunnabodee and Pimnipa Panthong, a student at Kent State University in the US.
They are being managed by Kanes Nitivanakul and coached by Preecha Seneprom and Kris Assawapimonporn.
“We have picked our best players who have been training together since late last year [except for the US-based players],” TGA president Rangsrid Luxitanond said.
Atthaya, 16, is considered Thailand’s best bet at the 30th SEA Games.
She is the hot favourite to retain the individual title and will be Thailand’s leader in the team event.
But the favourite’s tag is not putting the Ratchaburi native under any undue pressure.
“We [Thailand] are always favourites at the SEA Games. I don’t really feel under pressure. Instead, I am excited to play,” said Atthaya. “I always try my best.”
Atthaya is one of the hottest amateur golfers in the world at the moment.
She began her rise on the international stage in 2017.
She was invited to play at the Honda LPGA Thailand and finished 37th out of 66 competitors that included some of the world’s top female players.
She then won the Ladies European Thailand Championship in Pattaya and played at the Women’s British Open and the Evian Championship.
She also swept the individual and team gold medals at the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.
In 2018, she was crowned champion of the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Singapore after winning a four-way play-off.
With the triumph, she received a ticket to the HSBC Women’s Champions held on the same course the following week and finished eighth in the LPGA Tour event.
She went on to become the low amateur at the ANA Inspiration and claimed the Smyth Salver as the leading amateur at the Women’s British Open.
Atthaya and Vanchai claimed the mixed team title at the Youth Olympics in Argentina.
This year, she won the Ladies European Thailand Championship for the second time.
She was again the leading amateur at the Women’s British Open, finishing in a tie for 29th place overall.
While TGA president Rangsrid is targeting four gold medals at the SEA Games, team manager Kanes said it won’t be an easy job.
He said the men’s players may not be the country’s best at the moment, while the Thai women could face a tough task against the Philippines, the host nation.
“Some of our men’s players are newcomers,” said Kanes, who has been manager of Thailand’s golf team since the 2013 SEA Games.
“I am happy with the women’s team but I will only be able to tell you how confident I am about their chances when I see the names of players from all participating countries.
“If the hosts name Yuka [Saso] and Bianca [Pagdanganan], it will be an exciting contest.”
At the 2018 Asian Games, Saso won gold in the individual event and joined Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go to take the team title.
Thailand and the Philippines see each other as their main rivals at the SEA Games.
“Thailand are the biggest rivals for the Philippines,” Bones Floro, secretary-general of the National Golf Association of the Philippines, said in a recent interview.
The 2019 SEA Games will be held from Nov 30-Dec 11 with the golf tournament taking place at Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac City from Dec 4-7.