Wanning, Hainan Island, China: Three days after her Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) 18-hole record was broken, Thailand’s Kan Bunnabodee once more showed her appetite for low scoring.

It was in the second round of the 2021 WAAP at Abu Dhabi Golf Club that Kan fired an eight-under-par 64 en route to finishing runner-up to Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto.

Along with Australian Becky Kay at The Royal Club in Japan in 2019 and Korean Lim Ji-yoo at Singapore Island Country Club’s New Course last year, Kan was the joint record-holder for the lowest 18-hole return in WAAP history.

But that mark was bettered last Saturday in the third round of the 2024 edition of the region’s premier women’s amateur championship when Rianne Malixi of the Philippines blazed her way to a nine-under 63 at Siam Country Club's Waterside Course.

Over the East Course at The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula today, 21-year-old Kan went one better, carding a 10-under-par 62 to race to an emphatic eight-stroke victory in the China LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

With a 72-hole total of 23-under 265, Kan, now a rookie pro, earned her full-time playing card for the 2024 China LPGA Tour. In all, 34 players received their full playing cards, including 18 mainland Chinese players and one from Hong Kong, China.

Chinese amateur Wu Tianqi was a distant second to Kan, the Beijing teenager closing with a five-under 67. A further two shots back in third was Thai Saranporn Katesuwan (65) with China’s Pang Runzhi (66) fourth on 278.

Starting the fourth round with a three-shot advantage, Kan came out firing with four birdies over the front nine to make the turn at 32 in sunny and warm conditions at the seaside course. At the 392-yard 11th hole, the Chonburi native holed-out from 138 yards with her approach shot for an eagle two before carding four more birdies, including two straight, to close.

Kan’s 10-under score set a new single-round scoring record at a CLPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. Her 23-under total is also a new 72-hole tournament record. For some years, the tournament had been played as a 54-hole event.

“At first, I was expecting myself to reach 20-under. Then things started to change after 11. I made eagle at the 11th and was then thinking I could try to beat my low score (nine-under 63) … and it just turned out when I birdied 17 and 18,” said Kan who played the past four years at Purdue University in Indiana.

“Since I turned professional (last month), I just wanted to try my best. I know that professional golf is very different from amateur golf. I just want to focus on my game,” she said.

Wu, the first-round leader, looked like she might mount a challenge after reeling off consecutive birdies starting from the 174-yard third hole. But the teenager followed with nine consecutive pars before posting three birdies over the last five holes.

“I did think I had a chance to catch up with her (Kan) after making two straight birdies on the front nine. I was a step closer and more confident. But she had an eagle at 11 and a birdie at 12. You couldn’t compete with her with her peak form. The win was impossible,” said 16-year-old Wu.

“My hat is off to her (Kan). She had such a flawless round. She could be the one who all players try to chase this season. I was happy with this finish.”

Thais Chanokphisut Charoenpattanasatit (72) and Chanokmanee Charoenpattanasatit (73) became the first twins to qualify for their CLPGA Tour cards as the Si Sa Ket natives finished, fittingly, with identical scores of one-over 289 in equal 11th place.