Cha-am, Thailand
Former Thai LPGA Tour winner Dussavi Soopijit established the first-round lead as the season-opening Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf got underway at the Springfield Royal Country Club in Cha-Am, Petchaburi on Thursday.
With eight birdies against a lone bogey on the third hole, Dussavi surged in contention in the Bt3 million tournament at the par 72 landscape which measures 7,043 yards off the men’s tee and 6,350 yards for the women.
The 24-year-old Dussavi whose biggest career win occurred at the Kabinburi Sport Club on the Thai LPGA Tour back in 2016 grabbed a stroke lead over six chasing players led by the in-form Settee Prakrongvech, winner of the Boonchua Ruangkit Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima in less than a fortnight.
“This is beyond expectations. I hit a lot of greens and made a lot of birdies. I’m quite excited to be in this position in my first event of the year,” said Nakhon Pathom-based who won two Thai LPGA Challenge titles two years ago.
“My game plan for tomorrow is to hit one shot at a time. I would rather stay at the present and try not to think too far ahead,” she added.
Chonburi-born Sette who just claimed his third All Thailand Golf Tour title at the Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club in late January fired an eagle on the 12th hole, six birdies, and two bogeys for an opening 66 to share the second place alongside Sangchai Kaewcharoen, Chakansim Khamborn, Chanoknan Anguasaranee, Dolnapa Phudthipinij, and Venezuelan Wolmer Murillo, the only foreigner in the top 10.
Rising star Chanoknan decorated her scorecard with an eagle on the third hole and six birdies against two bogeys to come in joint second.
“I’m quite happy with my round even I overhit some shots and ended up making mistakes. I need to hit the fairways and shoot scores when opportunities open ajar,” said Chanoknak who is shaping up her game before joining the Epson Tour, the development tour of the LPGA Tour, in the US later this year.
Forty-year-old Wolmer, who is based in Thailand and the winner of the Combipar Players Championship and Mountain Creek Open back in 2017 and 2016 respectively, was the only player without a bogey in the top five. He fired two birdies at the front nine and four more after the turn.
The first Thailand Mixed event is competed in a four-day stroke-play format with only top 60 and ties, after 36 holes, moving forwards to the weekend rounds.
Viewers can watch live streaming of the Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf on AISPLAY APP, https://www.facebook.com/trustgolfclub, and at TrustGolf Youtube channel from 9 am onwards during tournament days.
The Thailand Mixed is organized by TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology. It is supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Bangkok Bank, B.Grimm Company, Bond Holdings, AISPLAY, Bridgestone, Trust Pharmacy, Trust Live Streaming, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Springfield Royal Country Club and S.Khonkaen.
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About TrustGolf
TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology, has supported international tournaments including the “TrustGolf Women Scottish Open”, a Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour event between 2021-2025. A great number of world-leading golfers signed up for the event which helped promote a good image for Thailand. Moreover, Thai female players, under the support of TrustGolf, were given the opportunity to compete in the European event.
Between 2020-2021, apart from five Thailand Mixed series hosted by TrustGolf, TrustGolf Tour also organized the TrustGolf Amateur Qualifier 2021 which selected players to compete in the IMG Academy Juniors World (San Diego and Florida Challenge) and the Men’s and Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific. In 2022, TrustGolf will host five stops of the Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf (with a total Bt15 million prize money) and the TrustGolf Asian Mixed, a tri-sanctioned event by Asian Tour, Ladies European Tour, and TrustGolf Tour (US$1.5 million prize money) at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Waterside in April. Furthermore, there will be the TrustGolf Link Series which will serve up as the Access Series for Ladies European Tour which also includes the TrustGolf Scottish Open (US$2 million prize money).
