Hitaashee Bakshi will now have the opportunity to compete with future LPGA stars and earn world ranking points
19-year-old Hitaashee Bakshi of Gurgaon, a four-time winner on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour (WPGT), made a splash by defeating 212 participants at the Thai LPGA Tour Qualifying tournament and winning the event with scores of 68-71-68 at Watermill Golf Club & Resort in Thailand.
Last year Sneha Singh, the 2023 Indian Tour No 1, had started the trend of Indians playing the Thai LPGA , playing a few tournaments there. This year she finished 33rd at the Qualifier which will give her a few entries on the tour as opposed to Hitaashee who can enter as many events as she likes.
The Thai LPGA Tour was founded in 2008, and is supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand and other private company sponsors. The tour started accumulating official world ranking points beginning in 2023 and last year hosted 11 events with an average prize fund of US$ 33,000.
Thailand’s ladies golf has moved forward rapidly in the past 15 years and boasts major title winners – the Jutanugarn sisters – Ariya (Women’s British Open and US Women’s Open) & Moriya, LPGA winner Athaya Thitikul, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Patty Tavatanakit (Chevron Championship).
Photo -Hitaashee Bakshi