THAI amateur sensation Atthaya Thitikul finished as the leading amateur at the AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn for the second year in a row.
With rounds of 73, 68, 70, 73 she finished the championship in a tie for 29th place on four-under par to earn The Smyth Salver.
Thitikul won the LET Thailand Championship in 2017 as a 14-year-old to become the youngest-ever winner of a professional event anywhere in the world.
She then claimed the title as an amateur for the second time in three years back in June – to earn her spot in the Open at the Buckinghamshire club, belonging to the Duke of Bedford.
Thitikul said: “It’s awesome, I never thought that I would be here again because I needed to win on the Ladies European Tour to qualify into this event. It has been awesome to get back here.
“I had a great time this week – I just played my game and I really enjoyed every moment.
“This week I hit the ball really well. The final round was a bit of a struggle with my putter but I had a really good time here.
“When I play in professional events, I get real experience and I adapt that to every tournament that I play. I just keep wanting to improve my game.”
Thitikul, the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion, was one of two amateurs to make the cut at the year’s final major.
Also playing all four rounds at Woburn Golf Club’s Marquess Course was current Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Yuka Yasuda, from Japan, who earned her place in the field thanks to her victory in April.
Yasuda posted rounds of 73, 70, 70 and 77 to finish the championship on two-over par and tied in 59th place.
As a result of her Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship victory, Yasuda also earned an invitation to last week’s Evian Championship where she was the equal leading amateur, finishing in a tie for 37th.
The AIG Women’s British Open was won by Hinako Shibuno of Japan who recorded a tournament total of 18-under par to beat America’s Lizette Salas by one.
Japan’s Smiling Cinderella has a ball winning maiden Major at Woburn
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