Chonburi, Thailand: Brushing shoulders with the world’s finest players has fuelled Pimpisa Rubrong’s ambitions to follow in the footsteps of Thailand’s female golfing greats.
The 18-year-old marked her LPGA Tour debut with an accomplished performance in the Honda LPGA Thailand that will ensure she’s among the pre-tournament favourites at next week’s seventh edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) in Vietnam.
“It’s been a very good experience,” said Pimpisa, who posted rounds of 73. 71, 67 and 72. Her four-day total of five-under 283 at Siam Country Club’s Old Course left her in a share of 41st place in the elite 72-player field.
As well as bettering five of the 11 Thai professionals in the starting line-up, she finished ahead of Major champions Lilia Vu, Ko Jin-young, Kim Hyo-joo, Hinako Shibuno and Anna Nordqvist.
“I’m particularly proud of my five-under 67 in round three,” said Pimpisa, who earned her place in the LPGA Tour showpiece by winning the National Qualifier in January.
“Just being able to participate in the Honda LPGA Thailand in front of so many Thai fans makes me happy,” added Pimpisa, a member of last year’s Thailand team in the Queen Sirikit Cup and currently 64th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
“I’ve learned so much playing in the Honda LPGA and it will help me improve my game. I’ve seen how strong all of these players are and I know I need to build up my strength,” said Pimpisa, whose average drive of 250 yards meant she was hitting her approach shots first on most holes.
She marvelled at the consistency of the professionals, highlighting Frenchwoman Celine Boutier, with whom she was paired on day one. “She was so impressive. Even when she hit a bad shot, she recovered well to save par,” said Pimpisa, who also learned the value of remaining patient on the course.
On the opening day, Pimpisa holed a putt for an eagle-three at the seventh to go to four-under for the round.
She promptly hit a poor tee shot at the short eighth that cost her a bogey and compounded that error with a further mistake on the ninth where she took a double-bogey six. “I’ll learn from that experience,” she said.
Now she’s had a taste of the big-time, the national team member’s appetite has been whetted as she plots a path to becoming a permanent fixture on the LPGA Tour, following the likes of Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul, the current world number two.
Pimpisa said she plans to take up the offer of a golfing scholarship at Arizona State University next January after which she’ll look at turning pro.
Before that she’ll be attempting to emulate Atthaya by having her name inscribed on the WAAP trophy.
It was at the inaugural WAAP in Singapore in 2018 that Atthaya announced herself as a star-in-the-making with a play-off victory at Sentosa Golf Club.
“The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific is an important tournament with the opportunity for the winner to play in three LPGA Majors,” said Pimpisa, who will be making her fourth appearance in the championship at Hoiana Shores Golf Club from March 6-9.
After missing the cut in the WAAP in 2021 and 2022, Pimpisa found herself in contention last year, eventually finishing fourth at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course.
In her attempts to do even better this time around, the teenager made a scouting trip to the Vietnam venue a fortnight ago.
“I went there with my father to have a look at the course. We stayed two days and I played two rounds. I’m not sure which tees we’ll be playing from at the tournament, but I liked the course. Everyone at the Women's Amateur is a good player, but I think I can do well there,” she said.
