A perfect ten
Chiang Mai student beats older children to claim world title
Hua Hin - Ten-year-old girl Cholcheva Wongras beat dozens of older girls and boys to win the Class C & D overall title after carding a four over-par total of 220 at the Singha Thailand Junior World Golf Championship at the Royal Golf Course on Saturday.
Competing in class D (age 9-10) girls and boys, the Mamara Wichaiwittaya English Programme School from Chiang Mai had a third-round 75 to beat class C (age 11-12) boys and girls and class D boys for the overall trophy given to the best scorer in those two classes.
“I’m happy to win but I wish I could have done better in the final round. I hit good driving shots but my approach shots really let me down,” said Cholcheva, who earlier this year won a junior title at the Mission Hill golf course in Hainan.
“My goal is to be in the national team by 13. Actually my father hoped I would make it by 17 but I believe I can achieve that sooner,” added the young girl.
With Cholcheva claiming the overall title, Pimpisa Rubrong who came second in the girls class D with a total 226, was promoted to class winner.
In the boys class D, Ingtawan Wangrungwichaisri hit a total 229 to win the title while Pongsapak Laopakdee won the boys class C after firing a 224. Thailand also won the girls class C by Natachanok Tunwannarux who shot a 223.
For the class A & B overall title, 13-year-old Pimkwan Chookaew, in girls class B, remained the favourite to lift up the crown after she fired an even par 72 in the third round for two under-par-214. The Pathum Thani girl could have finished better had she not committee back-to-back bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes.
“I didn’t make several three foot par putts today. I also wish I could have done better in my first and second shots. But I will try to play better on Sunday as I want to win the overall title,” said Pimkwan, winner of the World Stars of Junior Golf champion in Las Vegas .
Girls class A’s Phisitkwan Pooratanaopa and Japanese Hiraki Arina, each with three over-par-219, trail Pimkwan five strokes in the chase for overall title.
The junior world championships drew 109 players from 16 countries, including 28 Thais.
Of these, 36 competed with Cholcheva in the C and D classes.
