PATTAYA, Thailand – Local stars Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul carded 8-under 64s to share a stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Thailand on Thursday.
Tavatanakit, who became Thailand’s new leading female golfer following her breakthrough win at the ANA Inspiration last month, carded nine birdies against a lone bogey on the sixth hole in drizzle conditions.
Despite no spectators because of the pandemic, Tavatanakit was playing under high home expectations. A Thai has never won this LPGA Tour event. She kept her cool and led alongside teenage prodigy Thitikul at Siam Country Club.