A week after Arpichaya Yubol flirted with the lead in a major championship, she played to a round of 59 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
On Friday morning, Yubol began her first round on the back nine at Seaview’s Bay Course and reached her final hole, the par-5 ninth, needing an eagle to match what had been done only once before on the LPGA Tour. , when Annika Sorenstam shot. a 59 in 2001. Yubol was at 10 under when she reached the 477-yard par 5, where the young Thai hit her third shot, a pitch from just short of the green, 10 feet from the hole. Yubol two-putted from there for par and closed with a round of 61 to tie the tournament record at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
“I think a little bit, because like the last two holes I’m already 10 under, right?” Yubol said of the prospect of making 59. “I think I can do more, like birdie, birdie.”
Yubol’s exciting first day comes on the heels of a strong performance at the US Women’s Open presented by Ally, where she posted a weekend of rounds of 68-69. The second-year member would ultimately finish fifth at Lancaster Country Club, where she made her first cut at a major championship and earned her first career top 10 on the LPGA Tour.
“I feel like my confidence is coming back from last week at the US Women’s Open. It was the best week of my life and that gives me more confidence for this week,” Yubol said after his round on Friday. “I just talked to (my manager) and he gave me more confidence and by doing well last week it made me happy this week. I feel like my happy golf is coming back.”
What is happy golf for Yubol?
After her round on Friday, Yubol credited a series of conversations with her manager during the week of the US Women’s Open for turning her season around. Yubol said she spent time talking to her manager for two or three hours each day of the major championship and said her manager helped her rediscover the inner confidence she had lacked since she missed the cut in seven. of nine starts this season. Yubol’s manager reminded her to think more positively, to not play in fear of missing the cut, but to focus on advancing to the weekend and also on finishing in the top 10 or even top 5. That’s what Yubol says is her definition of “happy.” Golf.’
“When I think wrong, he clears my mind,” Yubol said of his conversations with his manager. “And he believes in me a lot and tries to talk to me a lot like, ‘I believe in you, so you should believe in yourself too.’”
That renewed self-confidence propelled Yubol to a first-round 61 on Friday, which is not only her lowest round on the LPGA Tour but also ties a personal best for the 22-year-old, who said she recorded a round 10-under par once before in his home country of Thailand.
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