Six Thais likely to ‘dream big’ at next year’s Honda LPGA

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 Six Thais likely to ‘dream big’ at next year’s Honda LPGA 

By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam 
The Nation

 

World No17 Moriya Jutanugarn, middle, and Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Chief Operating Officer of Honda Automobile (Thailand), 2nd from right.

 

A national qualifying event will be staged for the first time to guarantee at least one Thai player entry into the 2019 Honda LPGA Thailand from February 21 to 24, 2019, in Pattaya.

 

 

January’s qualifying event will select a local to test their mettle against the LPGA’s top 70 earners in the country’s biggest golf tournament, which will offer prize money of US$1.6 million (Bt53 million).

 

While just one Thai is guaranteed a spot from the qualifiers, there should be at least six home players in action at the Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course next year. 

 

The five others are world No1 Ariya Jutanugarn, her elder sister Moriya, Thai No3 Pornanong Phatlum, No4 Thidapa Suwannapura and teenage prodigy Atthaya Thitikul, who has been given a special invitation.

 

Over the past 12 years no Thai has ever won the home title – only Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn have even come close, finishing second in 2013 and 2018 respectively.

 

World No 17 Moriya, who is taking a break from the Tour this week, hopes the trophy will finally belong to a home player.

 

“Everybody stands a shot at winning. It will always be a week for someone and of course I wish that will be a Thai players. Several Thai players are up-and-coming. Hopefully it will be our year,” said Moriya, one of the three Thais to win on the Tour this season, along with Ariya and Thidapa.

 

To celebrate its 13th year, the 2019 LPGA Thailand will carry the tagline as “Dream Big” a concept that aims to inspire interest in golf and build passion among professionals, enthusiasts and junior players from all backgrounds and all levels.

 

“We want to encourage them to pursue and realize their dreams, and have always believed that anyone can achieve great success if they are determined,” said Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Chief Operating Officer of Honda Automobile (Thailand).

 

 

The Honda LPGA Thailand 2019 will feature 70 female golfers, including 58 professionals from the 2019 LPGA Priority List, the winners from the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic 2019 and 2019 ISPS Honda Women’s Australian Open, as well as nine invited players and the winner from the Honda LPGA Thailand National Qualifiers.

 

Additionally, in 2019, a collaboration between Honda and the Sports Authority of Thailand will see a host of special events leading up to the Honda LPGA Thailand, titled ‘The Road to Honda LPGA Thailand’, which aim to further promote golf around the country.

 

Apart from the qualifying tournament, there will also be a Young Ambassadors Seminar, which aims to provide students interested in golf and sports management an in-depth understanding of the sport as a business as well as the different aspects of hosting an international golf tournament. Some outstanding students will also have a chance to obtain an internship abroad. 

 

The Road to Honda LPGA Thailand will also include a Golf Leaders Conference, a special event held for senios people in the industry.

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/sports/30357670

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-02

[manarak]

Ariya and Moriya, go girls !!

[Skeptic7]

The Jutanugarn sisters have already had big dreams come true...especially the "nong"! However, there are a host of other talented Thai ladies out there as well. Pornanong Phatlum for one. Bright future for Thai Women's Golf!