Yubo Chen Takes Lead at Thailand Junior Championship

Twelve-year-old Thai-Chinese golfer Yubo Chen, competing for the first time, fired a 5-under-par 67 to claim the solo lead in the boys' division after the opening round on Friday, 14 August 2025. Chen birdied holes 11, 16, and 18, and picked up three more birdies at holes 2, 4, and 8 while recording one bogey at hole 1. Hung Yu Liu of China and Ratchavich Ratchatchayan of Thailand both finished one shot back with matching 3-under-par 69s. Chen reflected on his round: "I played well; my putting was inconsistent, but I focused on staying in the fairway and executing solid short game shots. Next round I'll try to be patient, give myself more opportunities, and aim for a top-5 finish."

In the girls' division, 13-year-old Pimpnara Kulavanich opened with a 5-under-par 67 for the sole lead after collecting five birdies at holes 10, 11, 17, 2, and 4 from a start at hole 10. Richie Kittivatakul and Kirana Batpannatana held second place at 4-under-par 68, while Kachkorn Nimnuean of Ratchaburi posted 3-under-par 69 for fourth. Kulavanich said afterward: "I didn't hit many fairways today, but my approach shots landed close enough to give me birdie putts. For the remaining two rounds, I'll play with more focus." Nimnuean added: "The front nine went well; I made three birdies and an eagle at the par-4 14th. The back nine was tougher with strong wind, and my putting suffered, costing me two bogeys. Next round I'll focus on better tee shots to control my game better."

The tournament, held for the second year, features 120 international juniors (72 boys, 48 girls) and is supported by the Thailand Sports Authority, National Sports Development Fund, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Global Golf Management, Thailand Domestic Power, and Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai. Champions in both divisions advance to the full AJGA season, with top-5 finishers earning stars toward AJGA eligibility.