Calm Thailand get off to a flyer

Calm Thailand get off to a flyer

Hosts take the day's honours by dominating Japan in mixed team Amata Friendship Cup

Thailand's Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, left, and Prom Meesawat celebrate their win against Japan's Masahiro Kawamura and Mami Fukuda. photos: SEALS Sports Images
Thailand's Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, left, and Prom Meesawat celebrate their win against Japan's Masahiro Kawamura and Mami Fukuda. photos: SEALS Sports Images

Chon Buri: The star-studded Thai team got off to a flying start by leading Japan 5-3 on the first day of the US$1.2 million Amata Friendship Cup at the Amata Spring Country Cub yesterday.

Thailand, spearheaded by Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the highest ranked men's player in the tournament at No.38, eight-time European Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee, and world No.1 female player Ariya Jutanugarn, dominated the morning's foursomes 2.5-1.5 in the three-day event.

After losing the first foursomes match to Japan when Ryuko Tokimatsu and Erika Hara easily beat three-time Japan Senior Tour No.1 Prayad Marksaeng and LPGA Tour star Moriya Jutanugarn 6 and 5, Thailand fought back to take the second point through two-time Asian Tour winner Prom Meesawat and LPGA member Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, who defeated Masahiro Kawamura and Mami Fukuda 2-up.

"We didn't start well during the first five holes. Luckily they started missing and we raised the level of our play on the back nine. Actually we had a good game plan as I had to hit the ball to the positions that would be easy for Pannarat to chip the ball to the greens. Things can turn around quickly which is the charm of match play," said Prom.

Thailand surged ahead to 2-1 after Thongchai and Thidapa Suwannapura, one of the three Thai winners on the LPGA Tour this year, beat Kodai Ichihara and Sakura Koiwai 1-up.

"We need to have a good game plan in foursomes format. My strategy was to make Thidapa feel relaxed and enjoy the game which led to good results. Thidapa was nervous sometimes but she still played consistently. At the end of the day, we scored a point to help the team," said three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai.

Kiradech and Youth Olympic mixed doubles gold medallist Atthaya Thitikul then halved with Satoshi Kodaira and Yuri Yoshida as the home team landed the first session of the day with a 2.5-1.5 lead.

In the afternoon's four-ball session, Thailand continued their domination with young gun Jazz Janewattananond and LPGA Tour star Pornanong Phatlum beating Hideto Tanihara and Nasa Hataoka 3 and 2. "We were like ham and egg as when one played bad, the other played well. I like playing with Pornanong and we will team up again on Saturday," said Jazz, winner of the Queen's Cup in Pattaya in July.

Japan then fought back through Tokimatsu and Hara, who won their second match of the day, beating Prom and Pannarat 4 and 3.

Falling one behind going into the final hole, veteran Prayad and Ariya fought back to halve with Ichihara and Fumika Kawagishi. The Japanese duo made a bogey while the Thais saved par.

"Luckily, the Japanese players missed their shots, one went in a bunker and other into the pool, which gave us a chance. So I told Ariya to just stay on the green and we did it," said the 52-year-old Prayad, who had to play 36 holes in one day.

"Captain Boonchu [Ruangkit] made me play 36 holes in one day. I almost had no energy left after 14 holes in the afternoon," Prayad said.

Ariya said it was a dream come true to be playing alongside Prayad, one of the most successful Thai golfers.

"I was nervous and couldn't control the ball at the beginning. In the end we fought our way back for all square," said the 10-time LPGA Tour winner.

In the last match of the day, amateur Sadom Kaewkanjana and Moriya Jutanugarn beat Yuto Katsuragawa and Sakura Koiwai 1-up with the balls scarcely visible in the twilight at the last hole.

Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul, left, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

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