Page 21 - Golf Champion - December 2021

one to remember, and I’m excited to finish 2021 strong as 6, 41), average driving distance (No. 7, 275.49) and scoring
the Tour’s newest Rookie of the Year.” average (No. 10, 70.02). She is fourth on the Race to the
Tavatanakit is the second player from Thailand to capture CME Points list (2,208 points) and seventh on the 2021
the honor, following Moriya Jutanugarn in 2013. The Official Money List ($1,322,827). Tavatanakit is also third
award was not given out in 2020 due to the COVID-19 in the Rolex Player of the Year standings with 121 points.
pandemic. Prior to joining the Symetra and LPGA Tours, Tavatanakit
Tavatanakit became a 2021 LPGA Tour rookie after was a seven-time winner and two-time WGCA First-Team
finishing second on the Symetra Tour’s 2019 Race for the All-American at UCLA. She was also the WGCA and Pac-12
Card, where she won three times and earned Gaelle Truet Freshmen of the Year in 2018. She turned professional in
Rookie of the Year honors. The Thai native became a Rolex 2019 after two seasons of collegiate golf.
First-Time Winner at the ANA Inspiration, becoming the Tavatanakit will receive the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of
first Tour rookie to win the major title since Juli Inkster the Year award at the 2021 Rolex LPGA Awards ceremony,
in 1984. In addition to her win, Tavatanakit has notched to be held Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 at Tiburon Golf Club
eight top-10 finishes along with two other top-20 results. during the week of the season-ending CME Group Tour
Following the 2021 AIG Women’s Open, Tavatanakit also Championship.
clinched the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award based on her Since its inception in 1962, 10 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie
results at all five major championships. This past August of the Year winners have become members of the LPGA
she represented Thailand at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and World Golf Halls of Fame: Joanne Carner (1970), Jan
finishing in a tie for 23rd. Stephenson (1974), Amy Alcott (1975), Nancy Lopez (1978),
With two events left in the 2021 season, Tavatanakit Beth Daniel (1979), Patty Sheehan (1981), Juli Inkster
ranks in the top 10 in many statistical categories on Tour, (1984), Annika Sorenstam (1994), Karrie Webb (1996) and
including sand saves (No. 3, 60%), rounds under par (No. Se Ri Pak (1998).

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