SEA winner retains amateur crown
SEA GAMES GOLD medallist Witchayanon Chothirungrungrueng and unfancied Kultida Pramphun took the men’s and women’s trophies at the 83rd Singha Thailand Amateur Open yesterday.
Witchayanon, 20, from Udon Thani shot a bogey-free 68 at the Panya Ram Indra Golf Course to defend his crown with a 16 under-par 268, one shot ahead of Singaporean rival Jesse Yap, who closed with a second straight 67.
“I didn’t play well today but I pulled it off to win for the second year,” said Witchayanon, who was in the team that won SEA games gold in Kuala Lumpur in August. The diminutive golfer aims to turn pro after the Asian Games in Indonesia next year.
Kultida, 16, fired a 68 for a four under-par-280 to beat Taglao Jeeravivitaporn by just one stroke, her biggest win up to date since taking up golf just four years back.
“I had to play sports because I had an allergic disease, said the 11th grade student from Umpornpaisarn School.”
“Four years ago I decided to live back at home [after studying at a boarding school for many years] so I could play golf seriously.”
The teenager will try to win national selection next year and if unsuccessful, says she will turn professional.
