Thitiphun Chuayprakong starts on a high note at the Thailand Golf Championship
Thitiphun Chuayprakong led the local charge at the Thailand Golf Championship, after carding a bogey-free six-under par 66 in the opening round, on Thursday, December 6, 2012.
The Thailand Golf Championship is the second-last tournament of the 2012 Asian Tour season, and is offering a total prize purse of US$1 million, to the participants.
Prior to the start of the tournament at the Amata Spring Country Club, Chuayprakong was regarded as one of the favourites to record a victory in Bangkok. He proved his betting odds right by recording a decent score in the opening round.
He got off to a confident start, as he carded pars on each of the first three holes, before draining a birdie putt on the fourth hole.
He then added another two shots on the seventh and the eighth hole, to reach the turn in three under.
Afterwards, the Thai star replicated his front-nine performance, and recorded another three birdies on the back nine, to finish one stroke behind the pace set by Charl Schwartzel.
With his 2013 Asian Tour card secured – he holds the 44th position in the Order of Merit – the 20-year-old now plans to finish his Asian Tour campaign on a high note, by maintaining consistency in the remaining three rounds.
Talking to the Asian Tour’s official website, he revealed that he was working with his coach for the past few weeks. He told that his coach greatly helped him in strengthening his mental game.
“I’ve got no pressure at all as I’ve already kept my Asian Tour card,” he said. “I’ve started working with a mental coach and it’s been helpful. He has told me to stay in the present and not get ahead of myself. I certainly didn’t expect to shoot a six under
round as my goal was four or five under”.
He also expressed his pleasure in playing decent shots with his irons, and then complementing them with his brilliant short-game technique.
“I hit a lot of good irons today and my shot-making was very good. Made two long birdies out there from about six to seven yards while the other four were from close range. The greens are receptive and perfect,” he said.
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