Bangkok, Thailand: Big-hitting Natthakritta Vongtaveelap will be the player to beat when the 28th Singha Thailand Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championship tees-off next week.

Fresh from a brilliant performance in the third Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP), 19-year-old Natthakritta is among the standout players lining up at Amata Spring Country Club from December 1-3.

A fortnight ago at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Natthakritta led after each of the first three rounds of the WAAP. Despite being pipped at the post by Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto, Natthakritta has risen to 112th in The R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking.

It has also given Natthakritta the belief that she can follow in the footsteps of compatriot Atthaya Thitikul and forge a successful career among the ranks of the professionals in due course.

For now, Natthakritta is focused on following Atthaya into the winners’ enclosure in the Singha Thailand Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championship.

The last time the event was staged, in May 2019, Atthaya fired rounds of 67, 68 and 67 for a 14-under-par aggregate at Amata Spring to post a runaway victory and capture the Her Majesty Queen Rambhai Barni Trophy.

Winner of the inaugural WAAP in Singapore in 2018, Atthaya is now in the top-25 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, having recently topped the standings in the Ladies European Tour’s season-long Race to Costa del Sol title.

Atthaya’s spectacular rise is an inspiration not only to Natthakritta, but to all 82 participants at Amata Spring, including a plethora of talented Thai teenagers who dominate the championship flight of 46 golfers.

Among them are 14-year-old Pimpisa Rubrong, 15-year-olds Thitaree Visavapattamawan and Alisa Inprasit, 16-year-olds Sirichaya Chanpen and Natachanok Tunwannarux, as well as Manassanan Chotikabhukkana, at 18 a comparative veteran.

Santi Bhirom Bhakdi, Chairman of Singha Corporation, the main sponsor of Thailand Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championship since its inception in 1978, expressed his admiration for those involved in organising the tournament.

In so doing, they are providing unprecedented challenges and opportunities for participating amateurs in their quest in the game and to ensure that the event continues to flourish, said Santi.

Arsa Sarasin, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Amata Spring Country Club, said the former Royal Trophy venue is proud to stage the championship for a second occasion.

“The management believes that competition among top-ranking golfers will inspire a new generation of local golfing talent and raise the level of the sport in Thailand,” said Arsa.