Kawinpakorn second; Boonraksasat 27th at ThaiLPGA event

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand – The Kansas women’s golf program had a pair of alumni post top-30 efforts Friday at the 3rd SINGHA-SAT-TOYOTA Thai LPGA Championship event at the Rancho Charvnee Resort and Country Club, led by Jayhawk All-American Yupaporn Kawinpakorn’s second-place finish.

Joining Kawinpakorn in the Taiwan LPGA event was Thanuttra Boonraksasat, who finished in 27th place.

After the first round, Kawinpakorn was tied for 17th with a 1-under 71.  Nicknamed “Mook,” Kawinpakorn bogeyed two of the first four holes, but then birdied five of her next nine to stay under par. Boonraksasat carded a 1-over 73 and was tied for 31st.  She started at 1-under, but Boonraksasat was slowed with a double bogey on hole No. 11 to finish the round over par.

In Thursday’s second round, Kawinpakorn eagled hole No. 1 and carried that momentum throughout the round.  She scored par on 10-straight holes before adding three birdies over the final seven to finish with a 5-under, 67.  Kawinpakorn climbed the leaderboard into a tie for fourth. Nicknamed “Fhong,” Boonraksasat also took part in moving day with a 1-under, 71 and jumped up into a tie for 23rd.  She also scored an eagle in her round, notching a three on the par-5 No. 14, but five bogeys offset her four birdies.

Kawinpakorn finished the event at 9-under after posting a 3-under, 69 in her final round. She was three strokes off the leader and finished tied for the second spot.  Kawinpakorn played a near perfect final round with four birdies and 13 pars, but a bogey on the final hole pushed her into a tie for second. Boonraksasat added another under-par score with a 71, but dropped back into a tie for 27th and finished 1-under over three rounds.

The Jayhawks will now prepare for the 4th SINGHA-SAT Thai LPGA Championship event at the Royal Hua Hin Golf Club in Hau Hin, Thailand, May 1-3.

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