Three Thai players are among the top 10 in the Honda LPGA Thailand. One rookie is leading the field at 12 under.
Natthakritta Vongtaveelap (20) was selected after she won a national qualifier earlier in the year. She is competing with a sponsor exemption. Making the most of her experience, she carded a second-round 65 and took a one stroke lead over Maja Stark from Sweden. Vongtaveelap scored six birdies on her back 9.
She said that Honda’s Honda debut was her first. It’s the largest crowd I have ever seen in my entire life.
After passing through the first two stages at LPGA Q-School, Bangkok’s Vongtaveelap became a professional in November. After finishing 28th at LPGA Q-Series, she earned LPGA membership in 2023. Vongtaveelap is also known by her nickname “Sim”, and she is often called “Sim 300” because of the distance she takes off the tee.
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Jaravee Boonchant from Duke, another LPGA rookie sits in third, while Pornanong Panlum, a LPGA veteran, holds eighth, three back.
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, who was named LPGA Rookie-of-the Year last year, is trailing by four at T-15. Saki Baba (2022 U.S Women’s Amateur champion) is also competing under a sponsor exemption and is tied for 20th at 7 below.
Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, Thailand, smiles as she tees off at the 18th hole of the Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club on Feb 24, 2023 in Chon Buri. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images).
Stark, who shot out two times for eagle in her opening round, has won seven times around the world since she left Oklahoma State to become a professional in 2021. She was awarded an LPGA card last summer after her victory at the ISPS Handa World Invitational. She is currently at the top of the LET’s Solheim Cup point list.
“I have been working hard to improve my nerve handling skills, but I feel like this weekend will be nerve-racking. I am going to continue playing aggressively regardless. Keep my foot on the gas and keep trying to go low. Do not compare yourself to others. Try to make as many birdies and as many birds as possible. It won’t change the way they play.
Nelly Korda, United States, looks at the 18th hole from the putting green during round two of the Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club in Chon Buri on February 24, 2023. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images).
The second-ranked Korda’s score of 66 was highlighted with a chip in for eagle at the par-5 10th. Korda, who is the sister of Jessica who won the 2018 event, said that she was struggling to hit her second shot and decided to hit 3-wood from the downhill slope. She had actually practiced the chip shot earlier in the week.
Korda said, “It was a difficult shot.” It was an undulated green type of shot with little room for error. I had to go downhill left-righter and then come back left, and it just landed perfectly.
No. After back-to-back, 68s, 1 Lydia Ko was the winner in Saudi Arabia. She trails by 4
