Good News For Female Golfers In Thailand

[sbk]

In China:

BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Porani Chutichai captured her second win of the year in China when she cruised to a six-stroke victory Friday at the 50,000 US dollars Orient Masters golf tournament at the Orient Tianxing Country Club.

The 21-year-old Chiang Rai native, who won the Taiwan Ladies Open in January, shot a final round four-under 68 for an aggregate 54-hole score of nine-under 207 in the first event of the five-tournament Orient Masters China circuit. The victory was worth 7,500 U.S. dollars.

On the strength of six birdies and a tournament-low round of five-under 67, Chinese Taipei's Yu Pei-lin charged up the leader board to finish equal runner-up with Yang Taoli (70) at three-under.

Thailand's Pornanong Phatlam (68) carded seven birdies during her round but the 17-year-old Chaiyaphum native dropped a shot with a late bogey on 17 to finish alone in fourth, seven shots off the pace.

Sixteen-year-old Chayuda Singsuwan of Thailand closed with an even-par round of 72 to finish an aggregate four-over, top among the seven amateurs in the 56-player field.

Porani, the first round co-leader who started today with a two-stroke lead, bogeyed her first hole as the rain started to fall. She then birdied four of her next eight holes for a three-under 33 to make the turn at eight-under leaving her nearest competitors, Wang Chun and Yang Taoli, seven shots in arrear.

As the rain stopped at the start of her back nine, Porani followed consecutive birdies on 12 and 13 with a bogey on 14. She then played par golf back to the clubhouse.

"I played as usual just like yesterday and I tried to make a lot of birdies because the final round is my favorite round in a tournament. That's when it is all on the line," said Porani who will try for her US LPGA Tour card in August.

"Today I bogeyed the first hole and then put it out of my mind. I knew that I could birdie the other holes. I was able to birdie the second and that put me back on track."

With the second leg of the Orient Masters Tour shifting to Qingdao, Shandong Province, next week, Porani said she was looking forward to seeing if she could keep her hot hand.

"Next week is another week and I will start all over again. Just because I win on one golf course doesn't mean I can do it again, but I will try. This win gives me some confidence. It seems everywhere where I play where there are Chinese speakers it is good luck for me."

Sichuan native Yang Taoli was clearly delighted with her equal runner-up finish in her first tournament as a professional.

"This is a great start to my pro career. The last 18 holes I didn't put myself in any difficult positions which was good as it was my first experience playing in the lead group," said the 24-year-old.

"I was telling myself that even par could get me in the top five for the tournament. My aim now is to be top three in Qingdao next week."

The Orient Masters Beijing is a China Golf Association-sanctioned event.

Xinhua

And she is new to the Pro tour. Well done, I hope it inspires more young Thai women to take up golfing