Atthaya Thitikul might be the next big thing in women's golf (The Nation photo)
BANGKOK, THAILAND (May 11, 2018) - Teen prodigy Atthaya Thitikul was crowned individual champion at the 40th Queen Sirikit Cup at the Thana City Country Club on the outskirts of Bangkok yesterday.
The 15-year-old became only the second Thai winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Ladies Golf Team Championship after Suppamas Sangchan in 2013.
Atthaya fired a five-under-par 67 to finish on 13-under 203, two shots ahead of Japan's Yuna Nishimura, who concluded with a two-under 70.
Overnight leader Yuka Saso of the Philippines slipped to third place on nine-under 207 after shooting an even-par 72 in the third and final round.
Atthaya had earlier shot a flawless seven-under 65 to lie just one shot behind Saso after the second round.
Atthaya became the youngest Ladies European Tour winner at only 14 when she won in Pattaya last July.
Tunrada Piddon finished tied 13th on 215, while Natthakritta Vongtaveelap was joint 20th.
However, Thailand will have to wait for at least another year for the team title after they finished runners-up to South Korea.
"It is disappointing because we were so close," said Atthaya after she was unable to lead Thailand to their maiden team title. "We just have to keep trying."
Atthaya (67) and Tunrada (71) combined to take Thailand to 15-under 417, matching the Korean effort of Jeong Yun-Ji (70) and Cho A-Yean (68).
But the honours went to the South Korean team, whose third player Lim Hee-Jeong shot an even-par 72, while Thailand's Natthakritta could only manage a 73.
The team event only counts the two best scores from the three members but in case of a tie, the third player's score is taken into account.
Japan came third on 418.
Top amateurs from 14 nations -- Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and Thailand -- took part in the event.
ABOUT THE
Queen Sirikit Cup
Also known as the Amateur Ladies Asia-Pacific
Invitational Team Championship. Teams of 3 players
representing 15 different countries play 72 holes of
stroke play competition.
View Complete Tournament Information