In her US Women’s Open debut, LPGA Tour rookie Natthakritta Vongtaveelap was disqualified after five holes during Thursday’s first round when her caddie, Jinsup Kim, was seen using a rangefinder multiple times.

The USGA confirmed that Vongtaveelap’s caddie breached the model local rule in place for the championship that prohibits the use of distance-measuring devices. Had he done it only once, the tour pro would have been subject to just a two-shot penalty. But after a second breach of the rule, the result was a DQ. Vongtaveelap was even par at the time.

The reason for the possible confusion on the caddie’s part might have been the fact that players are allowed to use distance-measuring devices during LPGA Tour events. Additionally, players could use them in the first two women’s majors of the year, the Chevron Championship and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.(Starting in 2021, the KPMG Women’s PGA, partnering with Voice Caddie, gave each player a rangefinder with a special competition mode to only measure distance.)

The only two majors that prohibit their use are the US Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s Open.

Vongtaveelap, 20, started her rookie season contending in her first two starts, posting a runner-up at the Honda LPGA Thailand and a T-6 at the LOTTE Championship. Since the electric start, the Thai has made one cut in five starts, including not playing the weekend at the two majors this year. She was at even par at Pebble before getting disqualified.

Interestingly, a similar ruling played out last week on the Korn Ferry Tour. Zach Williams, a recent college grad from Southern Indiana, Monday qualified for the Memorial Health Championship, where rangefinders were allowed. But when he used it on the first two holes in the first two rounds, he was DQ’d as their use is prohibited during KFT events.

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The 19-year-old denied Thai Natthakritta Vongtaveelap a wire-to-wire win at Abu Dhabi Golf Club with a closing 68 for a one stroke victory.

A final round 72 left Vongtaveelap in a three-way tie for second with Thai compatriot Kan Bunnabodee (66) and Australia’s Kelsey Bennett (68).

Hashimoto carded four successive rounds of 68 on The National layout to finish on a 16-under-par total of 272. The life-changing win saw her secure invites to two major championships – next year’s AIG Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship – as well as starts in the Hana Financial Group Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

“I have always seen these tournaments on the television. To be able to play in them is like a dream come true for me,’ said Hashimoto who is set to soar from her position of 121 in the world amateur rankings.

“I am unable to say any words right now. I feel so happy to win this championship. I would like to say a big thank you to my teammates and everyone who supported me all week.”

A hole-out eagle on the Abu Dhabi G.C.s 3rd hole sparked Hashimoto’s final round push and continued a memorable year for Japanese golf after Tsubasa Kajitani and Hideki Matsuyama were winners in back-to-back weeks at the  Augusta National Women’s Amateur and The Masters in April.

“The eagle on the third hole was a big surprise for me. I kept fighting hard after that until I made the winning putt. I played really well today.”

After leading for the first 54-holes, Vongtaveelap was understandably frustrated.

“I’m a little disappointed but I did my best. I am so pleased that I was invited to play in this tournament. This has been a new experience and I won’t forget it,” said Vongtaveelap.

“I have learned a lot. I have never played in a championship of this stature before and I have never been this nervous. I will keep improving my mindset and my skills.”

UAE-based Natalii Gupta, a nominated player of the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) and the only local player to make the cut, rounded off an excellent week with a two-under 70 to finish on -6 six in a tie for 13th.

“I had a blast this week. I’m thankful to be here, thankful to be given the opportunity to play this week,” said the 17-year-old.

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By Kent Gray
If any further evidence was required that Natthakritta Vongtaveelap will have to be well beaten for the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) title rather than backing up to her nearest rivals, the closing holes of Friday’s third round were conclusive.

The Thai teen was caught atop the leaderboard at Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Mizuki Hashimoto (68) when the Japanese player holed a 30-feet birdie putt on the 16th hole. Undaunted, Vongtaveelap sensationally finished her round birdie-eagle to sign for a five-under 67 and progress to -15 for the championship.

The 19-year-old will thus take a three-stroke buffer over Hashimoto into Saturday’s final round with Australia’s Kelsey Bennett still within striking distance at -11.

“I am so happy and excited about the finish. It was perfect,” said Vongtaveelap who, remarkably, has 19 wins and eight runner-up finishes in Thai events.

“The last seven shots were exactly how I wanted to hit them.”

If Vongtaveela can go wire-to-wire in the UAE capital, the rewards are potentially life-changing; starts in next year’s AIG Women’s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship, as well as invites to the Hana Financial Group Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

“I’ve come here thinking I want to win the championship. So this is a good way to go into the final round. But I know I need to play well as there are many good players in the field.”

Among those is Indian teen Natalii Gupta who moved up to T-16 at four-under-par 212 following a three-under 69. The 17-year-old Dubai-based player, representing the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) this week, closed out with three straight birdies for a second straight 69.

Natalii Gupta in action during the third round of the WAAP at Abu Dhabi G.C.

“It’s pretty cool. I’ve never had people watch me before and for them to be supporting me this week, it’s just wonderful.

“I could have started better, but it was a good finish. I got to make some birdies towards the end. I was struggling with the putter a bit on the front. Then I just trusted my stroke towards the end and that got me going.”

The WAAP was developed by The R&A and Asia Pacific Golf Confederation to unearth emerging talent and provide a pathway for Asia’s elite women amateurs to the international stage.

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By Kent Gray
Different day, the same name atop the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship (WAAP). This time though, Thailand’s Natthakritta Vongtaveelap had company as the day two storylines emerged at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

With a four-under 68 to go with her opening 66, Vongtaveelap moved to -10 for the championship and maintained her two-stroke buffer heading into the weekend.

Joining her for Saturday and Sunday will be Dubai-based Indian Natalii Gupta who is the sole remaining UAE representative after Alia Al Emadi, Hamda Al Suwaidi and Hannah Cheryl Alan failed to survive the 36-hole cull.

Perhaps the story of Thursday belonged to Vongtaveelap’s compatriot Kan Bunnabodee who fired an eight-under-par 64 to move into the top-10 and equal the lowest round in WAAP history. For the record, Australian Becky Kay established the mark during the first round of the 2019 edition of the WAAP played at the Royal Golf Club in Japan.

“I’m impressed that I could shoot this low score, this is my first time shooting 8-under,” said Bunnabodee, who recorded seven birdies in eight holes, starting at the 4th hole.

Kan Bunnabodee.

“I actually didn’t think about making the lowest score in WAAP or anything. I was just enjoying myself playing golf, making some birdies, and it just kept scoring lower and lower. So it’s pretty nice.”

So too has been Vongtaveelap’s opening 36 holes. She is two clear of Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto and Australian Kelsey Bennett (67) on eight under, with India’s Anika Varma (68), one of only two players in the field not to drop a shot in the first 36 holes, in solo fourth place at seven-under-par 137.

“I was not as nervous as I was in the first round. The first round gave me more confidence and I played very good golf and hit some very good shots during the round,” said Vongtaveelap, who made birdies on the 15th and 18th holes after starting from the 10th, and then added two more on the second and third.

“It was my goal to try and shoot a four-under round today and I am happy I achieved it.”

Natalii Gupta.

Gupta, a nominated player of the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), added a three-under-par 69 to her 74 on Wednesday for a one-under total and a tie for 26th.

“It was a good day on the golf course today,” said the 17-year-old.

“I think I had five birdies. I was just trying not to short-side myself and play aggressively to all my lines and just hope for the best. It is a huge honour to be representing the EGF. I’ve lived here in the UAE all my life. It’s incredible to be able to get an opportunity and then make the cut here.”

The halfway cut fell at two-over-par 146 with 51 players from 12 countries making it through to the final two rounds of the championship.

WAAP is one of the most important events on the calendar for players from the Asia-Pacific region, with the champion earning a place in two major championship fields – the AIG Women’s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship -as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

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By Kent Gray
By way of background intel, know that Natthakritta Vongtaveelap’s friends call her “Sim” and that she is one of the bigger hitters in women’s amateur golf.

Know also that the Thai is the early pace-setter at the 3rd Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship (WAAP) after overcoming an early bout of nerves and a dropped shot on the par-5 2nd to sign for a brilliant six-under 66 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Vongtaveelap leads by two strokes from the trio of Chun-Wei Wu (Chinese Taipei), Mizuki Hashimoto (Japan) and Viera Permata Rosada (Indonesia).

“I was very nervous at the beginning. My heart felt like it would jump out of my body,” said Vongtaveelap. “But I somehow managed to calm myself down by thinking that I can do it.”

Vongtaveelap showed just what she is capable of with birdies on the 7th and 8th before picking up five strokes on the homeward nine including a memorable four on Abu Dhabi’s famous par-5 18th.

 

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“I loved my birdie on the 18th hole. I think I hit all perfect shots there. A driver that went absolutely straight into the headwind, followed by a very nice second shot with a hybrid that reached the green and left me with a 15-feet eagle putt. I missed that even though I hit a good putt but that birdie was sweet.”

Just as significant was the par Vongtaveelap made on the previous hole, one of the tougher par-4s in the UAE. She showed steely nerves on the 17th after sprinting a birdie attempt well past the hole before calmly draining the near six-foot return putt.

 

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Eight players were tied for fifth at three-under-par, including Korea’s Youmin Hwang, the highest-ranked player in the field at number four in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), India’s Anika Varma, Australia’s Kelsey Bennett and the Malaysian trio of Ashley Lau, Audrey Tan and Natasha Andrea Oon.

Hamda Al Suwaidi, from the host nation of the United Arab Emirates, had the honour of hitting the first tee shot of the championship.

While Al Suwaidi did not have the best day on the course (she signed for a 92), she is a proud Emirati. “It was a lot of pressure and I was nervous but I was also honoured to represent the UAE. I hit the first shot and it went well.

“It’s a big opportunity for us to play against the best amateurs in the Asia-Pacific region. I learned a lot from this round and the practice sessions. It was such a good experience for me and of course for the rest of the UAE team.”

With a two-over 74, adopted Indian Natalii Gupta is the best-placed of the four UAE players after the opening round. Hannah Cheryl Alan and Alia Al Emadi carded rounds of 86 and 87 respectively.

The third edition of the championship, organised by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), is being held in the UAE for the first time. The 72-hole strokeplay event runs until Saturday.

The four days of the championship are being broadcast live for four hours from 6am-10am GMT (10am-2pm UAE time) on TV across the region, as well as live streamed through The R&A’s YouTube and Facebook channels and on RandA.org.

The championship was won in its inaugural year by Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, who has graduated to become the number one player on the Ladies European Tour (LET) this season, and by Japan’s Yuka Yasuda in 2019.

WAAP is one of the most important events on the calendar for players from the Asia-Pacific region, with the champion golfer earning a place in two major championship fields – the AIG Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship, as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

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