Atthaya Thitikul - Photo: DR - Source: LET

With rounds of 70, 71, 70 and 72, the young Thai schoolgirl won by two strokes with a total of 283 (-5) and never stopped smiling.

Due to her amateur status, the first prize of 45 euros, however, went to second place Ana Menéndez of Mexico, who led after each of the first three rounds and who won the best result of her career. Australian Whitney Hillier, who is half Thai, finished in third place with (-000).

Atthaya Thitikul previously demonstrated her enormous potential when she recently tied for Honda LPGA Thailand, which she played a few days after her 14th birthday on February 20. She then received an invitation to participate in the inaugural LET event at Phoenix Golf and Country Club in Pattaya thanks to the tournament sponsor, the Sport Authority of Thailand. His goal was to be in the cut, gain experience and have fun.

However, her remarkable talent showed itself early on when she completed an opening round of 70 to lead two shots in the lead and after the following rounds of 71, 70 she was the only player of the 126 to be under the par for each of the first three rounds.

The last day started as usual for the girl nicknamed "Jeen". Dressed in white and blue, even the ribbons in her hair matched her outfit.

Although there was a bogey on the first hole, she had won a lead after four holes and, from that point, seemed unwavering.

She won a two stroke advantage with a birdie on the seventh. On a hot day in Pattaya, the question was whether someone else could catch up to her.

Amy Boulden tried with a series of three birdies from 11, but a bogey finished her charge and she tied for fourth with (-1).

Mendendez made up for a one-stroke birdie on the 11th, but Thitikul birdied on hole 15, giving him a two-stroke lead with three strokes remaining.

Afterwards, Atthaya Thitikul said, “I am so happy and proud of myself. I didn't sound nervous, but of course I was nervous on the tee. I didn't think about the score. I engaged with every hit I hit and stayed relaxed. My caddy helped me a lot, not to think too much, to focus on my game plan and to plan the shots and side shots.

“My family doesn't play golf. When I was younger, six years old my dad told me to play sports and he suggested tennis or golf to me and I watched golf on TV and I liked it. " 

Menendez, who finished with a 75 card, commented: “Right now I'm disappointed because I know I could have improved my score and my start was a bit poor. There are a lot of positives to take and I would go home happy. I can't wait to see the rest of the year and have made tremendous progress this year since last year so I'm proud of myself and my team. I was feeling particularly nervous and wasn't quite comfortable today, with my swing and everything. I was between clubs a lot so it was hard to make decisions and overall it was a hard day for me. "

Hillier said: “I only made two birdies today and I was so patient there. I didn't do anything on the nine to go and finally I did a couple at the end. It was a solid game and I was very happy with it. I tried to find myself there and I did. I have worked a lot the last two months, but it helps me to have local support, my mother and all her friends encourage me. " 

Atthaya Thitikul already has a wealth of experience that most other young people would like to have. Earlier in June, she won the Taiwan Amateur Open after previously being second at the Queen Sirikit Cup in China. Its next big tournament will be at the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.

The previous record for the youngest player to win on LET was held by Lydia Ko, who won the 2010 New Zealand Open as an amateur aged 15, nine months and 17 days.

Ko was the youngest player to win two Majors, went on to become the world number one in women's golf, and won silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Whether Atthaya Thitikul follows this path or not, one thing is certain: the world of women's golf has seen a remarkable player with enormous potential.