Thailand golf quartet’s last hurrah on SEA Games stage before turning professional
When the golf competition of the Singapore SEA Games gets underway on June 9, there will be a quartet of Thai players aiming to sign off from the amateur scene in a blaze of glory.
Four out of seven players representing Thailand at the ongoing biennial Games have confirmed that they will turn professional after the tournament.
Making his third appearance in the SEA Games, the 21-year-old Natipong Srithong said that it would be his final appearance and he hoped to finish in style.
“I really want to win the gold medal at my last SEA Games,” said Natipong.
Natipong was a member of the team that won gold medals at the last edition in Myanmar and also in the 2011 Games in Indonesia. However, he has never tasted success in the individual event in which his best achievement as been a silver medal at the 2011 Games.
“I want to finish my amateur career with an individual gold medal.”
Three other players to turn professional after the Games are Kasidit Lepkrut, Tawan Phongphun and Benyapa Nipatsophon.
“I think it is time to play professionally and I will do so later this year,” said Kasidit, adding there were no more challenges left in the amateur game to inspire him.
“Actually, we wanted to turn professional after the Asian Games in South Korea last year, but decided to wait for the SEA Games before making the switch.”
Kasidit added that the course was not too long and the key to success would be effective putting.
Tawan’s father Surachet said it was the right time for his son to give up amateur status after the Games as he has played in many major tournaments and a lot of young players were waiting for their chance to be a part of the national team.
Surachet added: “We have a lot of talented players waiting to represent Thailand. The current team should now pass on the baton to the young ones.”
Benyapa Niphatsophon, who was a part of the team that won the gold medal in the 2014 Asian Games, also confirmed that it would be her last SEA Games.
“Definitely, it is going to be my last event to wear a Thailand national team shirt,” she said.
The Thailand Golf Associaiton (TGA) is resting its hopes on Natipong, Kasidit, Tawan, and Benyapa because of their experiences at the 2014 Asian Games, where Thailand won their first-ever medals in the sport at the quadrennial festival.
Team manager Kanes Nittiwannakul believes that with some good players from Malaysia and the Philippines failing to show up in Singapore, it is a good chance for his players to vie for a sweep of all the four gold medals at stake.
“I have confidence in my team because we have trained very hard for the Games,” he said. “Our players are likely to compete with each other for the gold in the men’s individual event.”
The men’s golf events will be played at Sentosa Golf Club from June 9-12, while the 54-hole women’s event will be from June 10-12.
At the last edition of the Games in 2013, Thailand captured two gold medals, both in men’s categories, while the other two golds went to the Philippines.
Thailand swept all the four gold medals when they played host to the SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima in 2007.