Ariya eyes pro ranks after amateur win
Thai teenage prodigy Ariya Jutanugarn carded a solid final round of 71 to claim back-to-back amateur trophies in the Kraft Nabisco Championship at the Mission Hills Country Club in California on Sunday.
Ariya fired a two under par 286 total to take overall joint 22nd position along with China’s Feng Shanhan and American stars Christie Kerr and Lexi Thompson. That score beat the three other amateurs who made it to the weekend in the first major of the season.
“I was playing well in almost every aspect of my game except making those crucial putts. I hit a lot of greens but didn’t make the putts. That’s why I had only one birdie today,’’ said Ariya after an errorfree finish. Her lone birdie was on the sixth hole.
“I’m happy about winning the amateur category again. It is a psychological boost for me and I hope to be ready when I turn pro next year,’’ added the Thai teen, who finished 29th last year on threeover. Ariya next plays an event in Japan, with her elder sister Moriya as her caddy.
Thai No 1 Pornanong Phatlum, after opening with two straight birdies, hit three bogeys and two doublebogeys for a disappointing 77. She signed off with a fiveunderpar 293 for a share of 56th.
