Thailand’s Ataya Titikkun Wins 2023 Simone Asia Pacific Cup, Reflects on Victory and Golf Career

Thailand’s Ataya Titikun, who won the Simone Asia Pacific Cup 2023 held at Pondokinda GC in Jakarta, Indonesia on the 23rd, is taking a commemorative photo. /Simone Asia Pacific Cup Organizing Committee Attaya Titikul and Jarabi Bunchat of the Thai team are giving a high five after confirming their victory at the Simone Asia Pacific Cup 2023 held at Pondokinda GC in Jakarta, Indonesia on the 23rd./Simone Asia Pacific Cup Organizing Committee Korean team members Hwang Yu-min (from left), Lee Hyo-song, Kim Min-sol, and Kim Min-byeol take a commemorative photo after completing the award ceremony after the final round of the ‘Simone Asia Pacific Cup 2023’ held at Pondokinda GC in Jakarta, Indonesia on the 23rd. is doing / Provided by Simone Asia Pacific Cup Organizing Committee

Attaya Titikkun (20, Thailand), who is ranked 9th in the world, has the highest world ranking among participating players and won this year’s Bear Trophy (lowest number of strokes) on the LPGA Tour, will play at the Indonesian Pondok Indah Golf Club (par 72) on the 23rd. At the ‘Simone Asia Pacific Cup 2023’, she recorded a total of 14 under par and 202 strokes in the third round, beating Korea’s Da-yeon Lee by 7 strokes to take the top spot and receive $110,000 in prize money. In the team competition where individual scores are added up, Titikkun was paired with Thailand’s Jarabi Boonchant (24), and the Korean team of Hwang Yu-min and Kim Min-byeol (runner-up in the back-count method), who tied with a total of 15 under par, and the Korean amateur national team member Kim Min-sol. ·They beat Lee Hyo-song’s team (3rd place) by 7 strokes, took the top spot, and won two gold medals. Korea, which lost the individual event to Princess Mary Superior of the Philippines last year and won only the team event, lost both the individual and team events to Thailand this year, where Titikkun performed outstandingly. The Simone Asia Pacific Cup, which was held for the second time this year, was fiercely contested with 58 players from 29 teams from 16 countries participating.

This year’s KLPGA Tour Rookie of the Year Kim Min-byeol ranked alone in 3rd place with 5 under par 211 strokes, while Lee Hyo-song (1st place in the Korea Golf Association (KGA)) amateur rankings, 2nd place Kim Min-sol, and Thailand’s Aila Galitski (17) tied for 4th place, drawing attention. received. Japan’s Hataoka tied for 13th place (1 under par, 215 strokes), and Baba Saki (18), who drew attention as she made her professional debut in this tournament after becoming the US Women’s Amateur Champion this year, ranked 17th (1 over par, 217 strokes). did.

What are Thailand’s Titikkun and Boon Chant thinking, who are shaking up the Korean dynasty that dominated the world’s women’s golf? I listened to their stories.

Q. Competition with Korean players is becoming more frequent. What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of Korean players?

Titikkun = “Today I was paired with two Korean players (Lee Da-yeon and Lee So-young), and their shots and fighting spirit were truly amazing. I think the Korean players are a really good team, so I think they were able to play their best even though we were ahead by 5 shots early on. But I still think it’s a very close game because you have two players on the same team and anything can happen. So I think I focused more on the game and tried to finish the game as best as I could.”

Q. Ataya’s growth process. How did you become a golfer and what led you to become a top golfer?

Titikkun=”To be honest, I think there will always be pressure and pressure. Whatever it is, the pressure will always be there. So I think we have to face that. You can’t run away, you can’t tell yourself it’s not a burden, it’s not a burden. If you say that to yourself, don’t think about it too much. Don’t put pressure on yourself. Of course, you will think about it. But I think I try not to feel that pressure at all.

I am also working hard every day. There will be some pressure. What I try to do is focus on the present and focus on the shot in front of me without forgetting the outcome. “It’s about focusing on the present, not the shots you’ve already passed, or the shots that are going well, or even the future.”

Q. What is the current situation of Thai golf? As good players continue to emerge, what do you wish they could improve more on?

Titikkun = “I think Thai golf, especially Thai women’s golf, is getting stronger. As I said, I think we’ve been getting stronger over the last two or three years. And more talented players joined us. As you can see, many Thai players played on the LPGA Tour as rookies this year, which is what we do and are an inspiration to them. Our biggest goal is to inspire Thai women’s golf and the next generation to become leading players for Thailand. “

Boonchant: “I think golf in Thailand is definitely growing and moving in the right direction. As Attaya mentioned, there have been a lot of LPGA winners on tour over the years, including some of our friends and the younger generation. I think this is a very encouraging thing for everyone, especially after Corona, the number of people starting golf from teenagers to children is increasing, including Ariya (Jutanugarn), Moriya (Jutanugarn), and Ponanong (Pathlum). I think it could be a result of all the hard work put in and being on TV. They are role models and I think they inspire us all to follow in their footsteps. I think there have always been talented players in our country, but they just haven’t had the opportunity or example to take it to the next level, but now with more people joining the tour, I can’t imagine taking that step and one day joining the tour with a player I respect. “I think I can do it.”

2023-12-24 03:58:53

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