Patty Tavatanakit Shares Early Lead at Honda LPGA Thailand

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Patty Tavatanakit
Patty Tavatanakit reacts during the first round of the Honda LPGA Thailand at the Siam CC Pattaya Old Course on May 06, 2021 in Chonburi, Thailand. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant via Getty Images)

A pair of native daughters were atop the leaderboard after day one of the Honda LPGA Thailand as Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul shared the lead on 8-under 64.

Tavatanakit, the reigning ANA winner, started her day with birdies on No. 1 and 3 en route to a nine-birdie low-round 64, her second-lowest 18-hole score on Tour.

“I feel like that putt went in (on No. 3) and I just feel the speed and the read for the whole day pretty good. I feel like it matches up pretty well,” said Tavatanakit.

“So wasn’t expecting that at all because I feel like I didn’t really get like a solid putting practice because the greens here are so slopey.

“If anything, I feel like I judged everything really well and I’m pleased with my round today.”

Tavatanakit, who averages 280.8 yards off the tee (4th on Tour), said her length was a benefit on the soft Pattaya Old Course due to heavy rains the night before.

“I feel like I had a lot of short irons in compared to other people,” said Tavatanakit.

“Like I spin it back to the hole instead of like having to land it by short. And I just feel like the whole game itself, being long, just gives my a little bit of advantage.

“But I still had to execute and play well.”

Thitikul, an 18-year old competing in her first event as a tour pro, highlighted her maiden professional round with two eagles on Nos. 10 and 18.

“Well, No. 10 was like — for 10 and 18 I never think that it’s going to go in, but just take it like easy as I can,” said Thitikul.

“Like I’m not a good chipper, so 18 I decided to putting, but 10 I shoot it and I was surprise how good it is, that one.”

Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who is paired with the co-leaders for the opening two rounds, was T3 on 7 under alongside another Thai star in Ariya Jutanugarn.

Caroline Masson, Hannah Green and Lydia Ko were T6 on 6 under, while six more players were one further back on 5 under, which included Carlota Ciganda and Brittany Lincicome.

2021 Honda LPGA Thailand

Top-5 Leaders: Round 1
Pos-Player-To Par-(Rd 1)
1. Patty Tavatanakit -8 (64)
1. Atthaya Thitikul -8 (64)
3. Nanna Koerstz Madsen -7 (65)
3. Ariya Jutanugarn -7 (65)
5. Caroline Masson -6 (66)
5. Hannah Green -6 (66)
5. Lydia Ko -6 (66)


Material from the LPGA Tour Communications was used to compile this report.


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