A DECADE OF “THAI LPGA” AND THE WAY OF ITS THRIVING FUTURE
2018 is one of the remarkable year of “Thailand Ladies Professional Golf Association”, well-known as “THAI LPGA”, since it is the 10th year of establishment of the association which still keep going to its thriving future.
As in 2008, the pioneers of founding intended to establish ‘THAI LPGA’ by the approval and under supervision of Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and Professionals Golf Association of Thailand (THAI PGA). Dr. Somporn Juangroongruangkit was the first President of THAI LPGA and had served it for 4 years. Later in 2012, the second President, Khun Patinya Kuantrakul, was elected to run the association under major support of Sports Authority of Thailand, Singha Corporation and other worthy alliance to set up tournaments and activities of the association.
Once THAI LPGA was established, the committee had initiative prospect to organize a tour of its own with the first objective that to create a space for its member players to perform and improve themselves in golf. At the very first years, THAI LPGA could organized only 4-6 tournaments in a year due to some limitations. But the pleasant turning point had come in 2013 when SAT allocated annual budget to support each tournament’s purse money which was THB 500,000 for THAI LPGA to organize 7 tournaments, and up to 10 tournaments in the following year. With new originating concept of THAI LPGA Tour in 2014, the tour was spread across the country with the purpose of expanding golf and tour’s awareness to local public in other regions of Thailand, at the same time that major golf courses in each region were interested and jumped in to support those tournaments.
THAI LPGA was continuing its progressive movement to grow up its tour until 2013, the Thailand LPGA Masters was announced its inaugural edition with THB 3M purse money which was aimed at that moment to create a new and greater stage to encourage players in the tour in order to improve their performance and to get themselves ready for other international stages.
Since 2017, and up until 2018, SAT allocated more budget to support the tournaments of THAI LPGA Tour by increasing purse money for 8 tournaments in season to THB 1M each and to THB 4M for Thailand LPGA Masters. More support from each sector came into is showing the growth of THAI LPGA itself and expanding the strength to women’s golf of Thailand. One important step in turning the association to truly international was the first co-sanctioning of Australian LPG (ALPG) in Thailand LPGA Masters 2016. And in latter year, tri-sanctioning was formed when China LPGA (CLPGA) joined the tournament and players from 15 countries were warm welcomed to colour up Thailand LPGA Masters 2017 at Panya Indra Golf Club. In 2018, the Thailand LPGA Masters’ significant season-finale tournament will be held on 19-21 September at the same stunning golf course with THB 4M purse money and world ranking points.

Khun Patinya Kuantrakul, the present President of THAI LPGA who is one of the most important person supporting the association with the best shot and being reliable person to manage THAI LPGA for 7 years continuously, stated that “Once I was voted to be the second President of THAI LPGA in 2012, after Dr. Somporn Juangroongruangkit, I had continued its objective which is to grow up women’s golf tour in Thailand to meet international standard. And as we can see that from the past, THAI LPGA Tour is keep growing and being international indeed, and now it is in front row of women’s golf tour of Asia. This year, we can organize our own 9 tournaments with total THB 12M purse money.”
“In the future, we will keep growing the association from the past. We believe that we are on the right track which is proofed by lot of our member players who are competing in abroad tour. We accept that THAI LPGA is the first step of long way for our players to step up in bigger stages.” Khun Patinya added.
There are many of Thai ladies players who are playing their outstanding roles in international stages, even continental or world-class tours such as Taiwan LPGA Tour, China LPGA Tour, LPGA of Japan Tour, Ladies European Tour and also in LPGA Tour.
The success of Thai woman player was obviously seen recently when Kanyalak Preedasuttijit clinched the title of Ladies European Thailand Championship 2018 as well as other 5 players of THAI LPGA who could finished in Top 10 and grasped almost half of total purse money of the tournament. This is to verify that Thai players are on a par with international players.
Nowadays, THAI LPGA is able to create its own stage of tours in international standard and plant the bedrock for the women’s golf in Thailand. The association is engrossed in building new and high skill players to Thai golf circle consecutively in order to thrive its success like it was in past 10 years.
“I would like to encourage any new faces to keep their golf practicing for the sake of their own success. There are a lot of competitors out there in the world stages. You have to keep up your eyes on and work hard as same as your role-model. Not only seeing their success, but look and study how they have dedicated themselves to it for standing there and making such impressive phenomenal to world’s eyes.” Khun Patinya added at last to urge the rising members of THAI LPGA Tour.