Honda LPGA Thailand

bangkokbobby · 10-22-2006, 06:32 PM

What a letdown for me... :( I'm so happy to have had a tournament in Thailand, but the Thai ladies really underperfromed this week. Even the LPGAers, Virada Nirapathpongporn (+10) and Aree Wongluekiet (+8 ), didn't post better scores. I was really hoping for somebody like Porani Chutichai to at least go Top 20 and use that as momentum to play out the rest of the year and next year on their tour and maybe get a few more players over here in a couple of years, even if only on the Futures Tour.

Sorry to be such a downer with a Seoul Sister winning, but I'm looking at the big picture for the Thai players, hoping to get more of them over here so Thai Americans here can see some of those players on the LPGA tour. This tournament certainly didn't help the Thai players get a boost towards the LPGA tour.

Still, I'm happy that Thai-American Stacy Prammanasudh was able to finish strongly and hotch a Top 20, but she's already an LPGA Tour member. I hope one or two of the better Thai players, if they can afford it, try to qualify for the Futures Tour.

I also wonder if the Thailand LPGA stop will be popular enough with the players to survive. One complaint that kept coming up in the post round interviews was the overwhelming heat. Some players spoke of heat exhaustion and nearly passing out. The hospitality of the Thai people was a positive, as was the beautiful course, but the playing conditions were brutal according to some of the ladies.

Hee Won getting dangerously close to a Cristie Kerr pose!!

Meena gives Hee Won a Singha Shower!!

Hee Won has a cute smile, wish we would see it more!

bangkokbobby · 10-22-2006, 06:36 PM

Here are a series of photos from the tournament and pro-am, courtesy of HappyFan's posting over at the Seoul Sisters forum:

Kimmie helps her amateurs!

bangkokbobby · 10-22-2006, 06:38 PM

Jee Young, Hee-Won and Meena on the range

The island green + Meena Lee

Meena Lee

bangkokbobby · 10-22-2006, 06:40 PM

More round one:

Aree Song

Young Kim (covered head to toe in 90 degree weather!)

Peanut (dig the gallery!)

Meena

bangkokbobby · 10-22-2006, 06:42 PM

Thanks again to HappyFan for all of the great photos!!

Kimmie practices in Thailand:

Blue · 10-22-2006, 09:35 PM

Thanks for the photos, bangkokbobby.

BelmarBob · 10-23-2006, 06:27 PM

Thanks BKB for the pics.

bangkokbobby · 10-23-2006, 07:55 PM

You're welcome, guys...but the real thanks goes to HappyFan!! Speaking of which, here are some more pictures HF found of Hee Won meeting fans in South Korea as soon as she flew home!!

Hee-Won, fresh off the plane, drops in at the Ulsan Lotte Dept. Store to meet and greet with her fans.

10-22-2006, 06:32 PM	#1
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,894	Honda LPGA Thailand What a letdown for me... :( I'm so happy to have had a tournament in Thailand, but the Thai ladies really underperfromed this week. Even the LPGAers, Virada Nirapathpongporn (+10) and Aree Wongluekiet (+8 ), didn't post better scores. I was really hoping for somebody like Porani Chutichai to at least go Top 20 and use that as momentum to play out the rest of the year and next year on their tour and maybe get a few more players over here in a couple of years, even if only on the Futures Tour. Sorry to be such a downer with a Seoul Sister winning, but I'm looking at the big picture for the Thai players, hoping to get more of them over here so Thai Americans here can see some of those players on the LPGA tour. This tournament certainly didn't help the Thai players get a boost towards the LPGA tour. Still, I'm happy that Thai-American Stacy Prammanasudh was able to finish strongly and hotch a Top 20, but she's already an LPGA Tour member. I hope one or two of the better Thai players, if they can afford it, try to qualify for the Futures Tour. I also wonder if the Thailand LPGA stop will be popular enough with the players to survive. One complaint that kept coming up in the post round interviews was the overwhelming heat. Some players spoke of heat exhaustion and nearly passing out. The hospitality of the Thai people was a positive, as was the beautiful course, but the playing conditions were brutal according to some of the ladies. Hee Won getting dangerously close to a Cristie Kerr pose!! Meena gives Hee Won a Singha Shower!! Hee Won has a cute smile, wish we would see it more! __________________ Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. ---Bruce Lee http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

10-22-2006, 06:36 PM	#2
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,894	Here are a series of photos from the tournament and pro-am, courtesy of HappyFan's posting over at the Seoul Sisters forum: Kimmie helps her amateurs! __________________ Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. ---Bruce Lee http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

10-22-2006, 06:38 PM	#3
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,894	Jee Young, Hee-Won and Meena on the range The island green + Meena Lee Meena Lee __________________ Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. ---Bruce Lee http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

10-22-2006, 06:40 PM	#4
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,894	More round one: Aree Song Young Kim (covered head to toe in 90 degree weather!) Peanut (dig the gallery!) Meena __________________ Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. ---Bruce Lee http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

10-22-2006, 06:42 PM	#5
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,894	Thanks again to HappyFan for all of the great photos!! Kimmie practices in Thailand: __________________ Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. ---Bruce Lee http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

10-22-2006, 09:35 PM	#6
Blue Forum Moderator Contests: Joint 3rd place overall winner 2009. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,650 Images: 6	Thanks for the photos, bangkokbobby.

10-23-2006, 06:27 PM	#7
BelmarBob Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belmar, NJ Posts: 9	Thanks BKB for the pics.

10-23-2006, 07:55 PM	#8
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,894	You're welcome, guys...but the real thanks goes to HappyFan!! Speaking of which, here are some more pictures HF found of Hee Won meeting fans in South Korea as soon as she flew home!! Hee-Won, fresh off the plane, drops in at the Ulsan Lotte Dept. Store to meet and greet with her fans. __________________ Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. ---Bruce Lee http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

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