Rising stars Teerawut and Alisa make waves at 4th JAT Opener
Teerawut Boonseeor and Alisa Inprasit, both part of the national team development program, stole the limelight in the open category as the 4th Junior Asian Tour circuit got underway at Lake View Resort and Country Club in Petchaburi on Friday.
Competing in the A class for boys (age 15-18), Teerawut, who had just returned from leading Thailand to a third-place finish in the Asian Junior Golf Team Championship in South Korea, fired three birdies and one eagle on the 13th hole against two bogeys for a score of 69. He held a one-stroke lead over Wittaya Ngamhom, who had four birdies against two bogeys to settle for a 70.
On the girls' side, Alisa, who won the 3rd JAT circuit in April, shot a 70 with four birdies against two bogeys to take the lead in the A class.
“I didn’t hit my driver and irons well, but I’m quite happy with my putting game,” said Alisa, who applied techniques she learned while playing in Europe and the US during her opening round.
“I had the chance to play in England and Scotland, where the conditions were so windy and rainy. Such experience really helped me today as the winds were a bit strong on the back nine,” the teenager said.
When asked about her game plan for Saturday, she said: “I need to stick to my game plan by playing one shot at a time. It’s quite windy here, so I need to be careful.”
Seven shots behind were Puntita Pawichai and Bao Nghi Tha.
In the B boys' class (age 13-14), Bhavesh Nirwan had a roller-coaster round, shooting five birdies, one double bogey, and five bogeys for an opening score of 74, sharing the lead alongside Nguyen Trong Hoang, Armaan Gawde, and Tantikorn Klinpeng.
The tournament marks the fourth out of six circuits in this year's Junior Asian Tour series. It features six categories for boys and girls: C classes (ages 10-12), B classes (ages 13-14), and A classes (ages 15-18). Competitions are held in a three-day stroke-play format, spanning 52 holes for A and B classes and 36 holes for C classes. Each JAT circuit will bestow World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Junior Golf Scoreboard points to players.
The JAT presents players with the chance to participate in international standard tournaments and accumulate points for potential selection in various international junior and professional events, including the LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour, Asian Tour TrustGolf Tour, and other prominent events in Thailand.
Fans can stay updated on the tournament through the Junior Asian Tour Fanpage. Additionally, live streaming coverage can be viewed on TrustGolf Facebook and Junior Asian Tour Facebook from 9 am to 4 pm.
