Thailand native Trichat Cheenglab opened her week in Lower Alabama with a 4-under 67 in the first round of 2023 LPGA Q-Series, making one double bogey and six birdies to sit in a tie for fourth after day one at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Magnolia Grove. The 28-year-old got off to a super rocky start, making double bogey on the par-4 1st hole, but didn’t panic, parring 2, 3 and 4 before picking up her first birdie of the day on No. 5.
Cheenglab struck again with a birdie on the par-4 9th hole to get back to even as she made the turn, and after making par on No. 10, she rattled off three consecutive birdies on holes 11, 12 and 13 to move to 3-under overall. She grabbed one last birdie on the par-4 16th hole to ultimately finish at 4-under, a solid effort from Cheenglab considering her double-bogey start.
“I don't like cold weather. I keep practicing to wear many shirts and to play with this cold weather in Europe, but like my hand a like very freezing that hole so I didn't drive it well. It went into the penalty area,” said Cheenglab of her double bogey on the first hole. “But the second shot is quite good. I use 5-wood and it's in front of the green. I think the result is good for that hole.
“I just told myself I have to figure out something on my driver and just believe that, okay, if you draw, just draw it to the pin. That's what I think.”
Cheenglab competed on the Ladies European Tour in 2023, winning once at the Big Green Egg Open in September and earning six additional top-10 finishes, including two solo seconds at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open and the Mallorca Ladies Open. Following the conclusion of the Andalucia Open de Espana, Cheenglab finished first in the Race to Costa del Sol and earned Rookie of the Year honors, becoming just the sixth player to take home both honors in the same season alongside major champion Laura Davies, Solheim Cup stalwart Carlota Ciganda, Germany’s Esther Henseleit, 2022 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Atthaya Thitikul and five-time LET winner Linn Grant.
“It means a lot. Like I didn't expect to be number one, and my goal this year just want to win Rookie of the Year and it's turn out like a bonus for me to get that prize,” said Cheenglab. “To win both Rookie of the Year and Race to Costa del Sol, it's not a lot of golf players who can do that. It means a lot for me, for my family and my team who work very hard. We just keep doing our things, and I think my wins bring proud to them. It bring the happiness to them also and also to the Thai fans.”
Like her fellow countrywoman Thitikul did this time two years ago, Cheenglab hopes to earn LPGA Tour Membership for the 2024 season via LPGA Q-Series to cap off what’s been a stellar year of golf for the 28-year-old. So far, she’s off to a solid start in doing just that and will work to card more rounds in the red with five days of golf to go at Magnolia Grove.
“I saw Linn Grant and Atthaya play on LET and they both came here,” said Cheenglab. “It's quite inspiring and it means a lot, (made me) a lot more confident for me to be here.”
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