Thai golfer Ariya stamps LPGA card with surge in qualifying

Ariya’s final round 71 propelled her to third, shared with Spain’s Maria Hernan-dez who closed with a 3-over 75. UCLA sophomore Alison Lee from California and World No 82 Minjee Lee from Austra-lia shared top place with 10-under 350s.

It was a startling comeback for the 19-year-old Thai, who was outside the top 20 over the first three rounds. However her impressive 67 in the fourth round proved the turning point, pushing her into the top 20 to make the cut for a 2015 LPGA Tour card.

“Actually I was playing well in the first round but a triple bogey on the eighth hole cost me a lot and I finished the first round with a 73. But my coach gave me some good advice and I got my momentum back,” said Ariya, who was working with Andrew Park during the qualifying competition.

Ranked 91st in the world, Ariya was the only Thai in qualifying to get a full card for the forthcoming season. Nontaya Srisawang narrowly missed the cut, which was made at 4-under 356. She settled for as share of 25th with a total 357, which left her eligible to play in some tournaments.

“My goal in 2015 is to win a tournament. But I have to work hard before the new season starts. I have to focus more on my fitness,” said Ariya, whose sister Moriya won the qualifying event in 2012. Ariya initially planned to enter qualifying in 2012 but sustained a shoulder injury that kept her out of competition for months.

A total of five Thais are now full members of the LPGA Tour. Thai No 1 Pornanong Phatlum, whose best 2014 result was runner-up in Malaysia, is the leader among Thais on the LPGA, followed by 2013 rookie of the year Moriya Jutanugarn, Thidapa Suwannapura, Patcharajutar Kongkraphan and Ariya.

 

Keyser qualifies 

South African Mathiam Keyser has secured a place in the US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship after winning medallist honours at the pre-qualifying event yesterday.

Keyser shot a fantastic 7-under-par 65 at the Siam Country Club to win the pre-qualifying by four shots from Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, who carded a 69 in the one-day event.

Countryman Phachara Khongwatmai took third place with a 69 while Scotland’s James Byrne, Singapore’s Lam Zhiqun and England’s Craig Hinton took the last available three spots with matching 71s.

This week’s Thailand Golf Championship, which tees off at the Amata Spring Country Club on Thursday, is part of The Open Qualifying Series where the leading four players not otherwise exempt will qualify for the 2015 Open Championship at St Andrews.