2008 U.S. Women's Open

 

VIRADA NIRAPATHPONGPORN

Birthdate: April 2112, 1982

Birthplace: Bangkok, Thailand

Age: 26 Ht.: 5'4"

Home: Orlando, Fla.

College: Duke

Turned Professional: 2004

Joined LPGA Tour: 2006

LPGA Tour Victories: 0

PLAYER NOTES

2007 Highlights

Recorded a season-best tie for 22nd at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2007.

Carded a season-low 67 in the opening round of the Navistar LPGA Classic.

Recorded her first LPGA career hole-in-one during the first round of the Navistar LPGA Classic.

2007 Stats (rank)

Rds under par: 18/54 (46) Rds in the 60s: 4/54 (105) Birdies: 152 (79)

Eagles: 1 (84) Greens in Reg: 61.1% (75) Driving Accuracy: 70.5% (31)

Sand Saves: 40% (62) Putts per GIR: 1.83 (48) Driving Avg: 244.3 (102)

In 2006, recorded a career-best tie for fifth at the LPGA Corning Classic, where she carded a career-low 66 during the first round; also carded a 66 during the third round of the MasterCard Classic.

In 2005, competed in 15 events on the Futures Tour and won two tournaments (Jalapeno FUTURES Golf Classic and the CIGNA Chip in For A Cure Connecticut FUTURES Golf Classic); recorded eight additional top-10 finishes; led the Futures Tour with a 70.61 scoring average; finished the year second on the Futures Tour money list to earn her exempt card for the 2006 LPGA Tour season.

In 2004, turned professional in June and competed in 12 events on the Futures Tour, where she recorded two top-10 finishes.

Amateur Highlights

Nirapathpongporn played collegiate golf at Duke University. She was the 2002 NCAA champion and was named First-Team All-American from 2001-04. In 2003, she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur and was runner- up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links. Nirapathpongporn played in the 2002 Wendy’s Championship for Children at New Albany as a sponsor exemption and tied for 28th. She also played in both the 2003 and 2004 Kraft Nabisco Championship on a sponsor exemption and tied for 21st in 2003. Nirapathpongporn received the 2004 Nancy Lopez Award, which is given annually to the world’s top female amateur.

Personal

Started playing golf at the age of 8. . . Credits her father Dr. Apichart Nirapathpongporn, her junior golf coach Tracy Little, her college coach Dan Brooks and her agent David McConnell as the individuals most influencing her career. . . Hobbies include shopping, karaoke and geography. . . After one attempt at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, qualified for the Tour by finishing second on the 2005 Futures Tour season-ending money list. . . Represents Honda, Bank of Ayudhya and Amata Spring Country Club.

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