A 14-year-old amateur from Thailand has won on the Ladies European Tour, supplanting Lydia Ko as the youngest champion on the circuit. Atthaya Thitikul, aged 14 years, four months and 19 days, clinched a two-stroke victory at the Ladies European Thailand Championship at Phoenix Country Club in Pattaya on Sunday.

New Zealander Ko held the previous record as the youngest winner on the tour, after claiming the 2013 New Zealand Open at the age of 15 years, nine months and 17 days. Ko went on to become the world No1 until being deposed last month by Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand.

Thitikul said her caddie had kept her calm during the final round. “I’m so happy and proud of myself,” she said after finishing at five-under 283. “I did not look nervous, but of course I felt nerves on the first tee and on the first hole.

“My family do not play golf. When I was younger, aged six, my father told me to play sport and he offered tennis or golf and I watched golf on TV and I liked it.”

Atthaya, who closed with an even-par 72 to finish at 5-under 283 to finish ahead of Mexico’s Ana Menendez, said she wouldn’t turn professional for a few years because she needs more experience.

“I didn’t expect to win this tournament as I just came here to learn techniques from the pro players on the Ladies European,” Atthaya said.



She began the fourth round a shot behind Menendez after rounds of 70, 71 and 70. But the Mexican player dropped four shots on the front nine, handing Atthaya a two-shot lead at the turn after one birdie and two bogeys on her first nine holes.

Ko also won the Australian tour’s 2012 New South Wales Open at 14 years, nine months and three days, and set the LPGA Tour record of 15 years, four months, two days in the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open.









