NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Atthaya one shot back at Thai Championship
>> PATTAYA: Thailand’s 14-year-old rising star Atthaya Thitikul was one shot off the pace at the halfway stage of the Ladies European Thailand Championship yesterday.
The amateur golfer from Ratchaburi, who is a friend of world No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn, shot a one-underpar 71 at the par-72 Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club to sit at three-under 141, one behind leader Ana Menendez of Mexico.
It was a hot and breezy second day, with light early morning rain, but the conditions failed to faze the teenage Thai national team member, who has a chance to become the youngest ever winner on the Ladies European Tour, should she continue her impressive form over the weekend.
World No.4 Lydia Ko currently holds the LET record having won the 2013 New Zealand Open aged 15 years, nine months and 17 days.
Atthaya said after her round: “I’m very happy with my score. Today my driver and approach shots were not good and my putting was so so, but tomorrow I will have the same game plan.”
When asked about her thoughts on her performance so far, she was clearly thrilled and added: “Unbelievable! There is a little bit of pressure in a professional tournament but I will do my best to enjoy my game, but not think too much. I am having so much fun!”
The teenager turned 14 on Feb 20, three days before teeing up in the Honda LPGA Thailand event, where she finished joint 37th in a star-studded field.
Fast forward to this week, and she is now chasing Menendez, who shot a level par 72 in the second round and continues to lead an LET event for the first time.
Menendez, a 25-year-old secondyear LET player from Mexico City, said: “I am really happy with the way I handled myself on the course. I was a little nervous when I started but then I started to calm down. I’m happy with the way things went. I got into my game and forgot about everything.
“I am very excited and happy with all the work that I’ve been doing. This is what we practise for, to go into the weekend with a chance, so whatever happens, I am going to enjoy it.”
Germany’s Karolin Lampert was third after her second successive 71, while LET rookie Frida Gustafsson Spang shot a 70 — the joint lowest round of the day with Johanna Gustavsson — to share fourth with Luna Sobron (71) of Spain and overnight co-leader Chonlada Chayanun (75) on one-under 143.
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES
(Par-72, Thai unless stated, a denotes
amateur)
140 — Ana Menendez (MEX) 68-72
141 — a- Atthaya Thitikul 70-71
142 — Karolin Lampert (GER) 71-71
143 — Luna Sobron (ESP) 72-71, Frida Gustafsson Spang (SWE) 73-70, Chonlada Chayanun 68-75
144 — Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro 72-72, Lina Boqvist (SWE) 73-71, Jessica Karlsson (SWE) 71-73
145 — Renuka Suksukont 73-72, Camille Chevalier (FRA) 74-71, Janya Morrakotphan 74-71, Sarah Schober (AUT) 72-73, Madelene Stavnar (NOR) 71-74
146 — Pajaree Anannarukarn 72-74, Whitney Hillier (NZL) 74-72, Titiya Plucksataporn 75-71, Polychompoo Wirairungrueng 73-73, Leticia Ras-Anderica (GER) 73-73, Cathryn Bristow (NZL) 74-72, Emma Nilsson (SWE) 73-73