Published on July 16, 2005

Pailin Ruttanasupagid emerged as world champion in the girls aged 7-8 group of the World Junior Golf Championships being played at various golf courses in California.

The Thai girl, who was fifth going into the third round on Thursday, shot a blistering four-under 54 in the Singing Hills Country Club-Pine Glen par-58 course to steal the title from under the nose of overnight leader Marijosse Navarro with a four-stroke victory. The Mexican turned in a one-over 65 and had to be content with joint second place.

Pailin, a student at Bangkok’s Rajinibon School, who came fourth in the championship last year, had birdies on holes 6, 7, 8, 10 and 14. She bogeyed the 12th hole.

The victory was particularly sweet for Thailand as three other golfers from the Kingdom missed out winning the top honours. It was so near yet so far for overnight leader Nichapat Kongpaisarnnatee, who lost to Japan’s Elisa Aoki by a stroke in the girls 13-14 section.

Nichapat shot a final round 2-over 74 while Aoki went one-under 71 to steal the crown. Nichapat had birdies on hole, 3, 6, 7 and 14, bogeys on 1, 10, 13 and 17 and a double bogey on the 5th hole.

Nond Ounmuang, who was third in the boys 11-12 section, fired a 4-under 70 in the final round to come joint second behind the Philippines’ Wolen Juan Superal, who shot a 70 to win by six strokes.

Amarin Kraivixien, who was fourth overnight, turned in an even-par 58 card to come second in the boys 7-8 group. American Joshua Martin, a model of consistency, had a 57 in the final round to take the title by six strokes.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert kept the Thai flag flying in the boys 15-17 group, the main event of the championships, by retaining his lead. The Thai returned a two-under 70 card in the third round and has to stave off Joseph Bramlett’s challenge in the crucial fourth round. The American, who had a bad opening round, rebounded with a splendid five-under 67 to join the Thai at the top.

Pavit’s sister Suchaya Tangkamolprasert came fourth in the girls 9-10 group after a final round 62.

The Nation

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

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