Sima-Aree Ties JGTA Record

Major changes in the Boy’s Division leaderboard occurred in the second round of the JGTA Phuket Junior Open as Bhitchayoot Sima-Aree shot a low score record-tying 66. Competitors from Thailand are moving up the leaderboard in numbers and multiple players in the field shot in the 60s.

After a first-round score of 75, Bhitchayoot Sima-Aree (2019) of Nonthaburi, Thailand shocked the field by posting a five-under-par 66 at Laguna Golf Phuket. This score ties the record for lowest in JGTA history, which was set by Jiakun (Andy) Li (2019) of Shanghai, China on his way to winning the JGTA Bintan Lagoon Junior Championship. Sima-Aree’s bogey-free 66 featured five birdies. Sima-Aree is no stranger to shooting low. He finished T20 at the AJGA’s 2017 Folds of Honor Junior Championship with scores of 69-68-72.

Conor Kelly (2019) of Bangkok Thailand and Yu Yu Chen (2022) of Taoyuan, Taiwan hold a share of second place in the Boy’s Division. Kelly matched his first-round even-par 71 while Chen carded a 68 with five birdies and an eagle. Chia Yin Yeh (2021) of Taoyuan, Taiwan and Xuan Luo (2019) of Guangzhou China are in a tie for fourth place after carding scores of 73 and 71, respectively. Camille Boyd (2020) of Yorba Linda, Calif., USA maintains her lead heading into the final round after firing a second-round score of even-par-71. “I played it pretty safe today…Yesterday I was hitting three-woods into the par fives on my second shots and today I decided to lay up with long irons to be safe. I didn’t make a lot of mistakes, but I also didn’t take advantage of a lot of holes” said Boyd.

Current JGTA Junior Order of Merit Leader Camille Boyd (2020) of (USA) Shanghai, China leads in the Girl’s Division after firing a one-under-par 70. Boyd, a fully exempt AJGA status holder, won the JGTA Bintan Lagoon Junior Championship earlier this year. Natachanok Tunwannarux (2023) of Bangkok, Thailand made a charge today, shooting a one-under-par score of 70. Tunwannarux is three shots back of Boyd heading into the final round.

Surapa Janthamunee (2021) of Phuket, Thailand matched her first-round score of 73 and is currently in third place. Chloe Chan (2021) of Hong Kong fired a second-round score of 72, which puts her at six-over-par for the tournament.

The final round of the JGTA Phuket Junior Open takes place tomorrow (April 20th).

AJGA PBE JGTA Thailand Laguna Golf Phuket