Pattaya: April-Chanoknan Angkuraseni has secured her ticket to compete in the Honda LPGA Thailand 2026 following her victory at the National Qualifiers held at Siam Country Club Rolling Hills in Pattaya, Chonburi Province. The competition, which took place on January 7-8, 2026, saw April-Chanoknan clinch the championship with a remarkable total score of 3 under par 141 (71-70), prevailing against a field of 89 participants, which included 25 professional and 64 amateur golfers.
According to Thai News Agency, the 21-year-old golfer from Saraburi Province, currently ranked 456th in the world, expressed her pride and gratitude after her victory. "Everyone played well this year, and the course was very challenging because of the strong winds," she stated. Reflecting on her journey, she thanked her family for their unwavering support and Honda for providing a platform for Thai golfers to compete at such a high level. With aspirations of playing alongside her favorite golfers, Gino and May, she vowed to continue practicing diligently.
April-Chanoknan's golfing journey began at the age of 11, and she turned professional at 16. Her career highlights include finishing as runner-up at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in 2023 and playing on the LPGA Tour in 2024 and 2025, where she achieved her first professional hole-in-one at the PIF Saudi Ladies International 2025 in Riyadh. Her ultimate goal is to become the world's number one golfer.
Ms. Ratchanee Chirathavornkul, General Manager of Business Planning at Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd., emphasized the significance of the National Qualifiers as a platform for Thai golfers to showcase their potential. According to Mr. Nakorn Wimoljitrasaad, General Manager of Marketing Communications at Honda, the company is committed to nurturing the talent of Thai youth, hoping that such opportunities will propel their future careers.
The Honda LPGA Thailand National Qualifiers, now in its 8th year and overseen by the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Thailand (Thai LPGA), continue to play a crucial role in promoting Thai female golfers on the international stage. The qualifiers have previously launched the careers of several notable winners, including Gift - Benyapha Nipatsopon (2019), Reena Tatematsu (2020), and Praw - Chanettee Wannasen (2021-2022).
The upcoming Honda LPGA Thailand 2026, scheduled for February 19-22 at Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya, will feature 72 world-class golfers competing for a prize pool of US$1.8 million (approximately 60 million baht). The tournament promises thrilling performances from top golfers, including Gino-Attaya Thitikul, Patty-Papangkorn Dhavattanagij, May-Ariya Jutanugarn, and Angel Yin.