Pulsawath on Path to Success

AMES, Iowa - It is exactly 8,487 miles from Bangkok, Thailand to Ames, Iowa. For freshman Pennapa Pulsawath, her remarkable journey and story is just the beginning of a potential legacy she hopes to write in the Iowa State women's golf record books. She has put up numbers in her first season that rival Cyclone greats Beth Bader, Louise Kenney, Lisa Meshke and current senior Christi Athas. Her excellence on the links and cultural adaptation belie her age and experience as she has emerged to become a strong candidate for Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year honors.

Head Coach Christie Martens first discovered her prized rookie a few years ago in a San Diego tournament and instantly knew she was going to be special. Pulsawath followed her appearance in California by winning the 2005 Optimist International Junior Golf Championship July 28-31 at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Gardens, Fla. She carded a 70 in her final round and set up an official visit to Iowa State.

Martens labeled Pulsawath as a bonafide blue-chip recruit and certainly one of the best that has donned a cardinal and gold polo shirt. Under the tutelage and guidance of Martens, Pulsawath has quickly blossomed into the scoring average leader on a young Iowa State squad and turned heads because of her play. Martens believes that in due time, she will be among the best in the nation.

“She has put the time and effort in for what it takes to be successful,” Martens said. “She has the potential to become a first-team All-American, but her sights are set on Big 12 Freshman of the Year if she does well in her last couple of events.”

Pulsawath's resume is enhanced with ISU's best finish in three of eight events this year. Her first tournament was a preview of things to come with a 10th-place finish at the Lady Badger Invitational. She paced the Cyclones to open the spring season at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic and the A&M “Mo” Morial, finishing 38th and tying for 29th, respectively. Her current stroke average of 76.91 would place her 10th in ISU's all-time season scoring leaders.

Pulsawath has been embraced by her teammates and gave her the nickname “Kwang” before the fall season got underway. Three of the other starters, Karly Pinder, Jessica Shin and Kendra Hanson, will return next season.

“The team loves to help her out with anything and everything,” Martens said. “It's good for them too because it helps make them more aware of the cultural surroundings in the world.”

Pulsawath saw her game flourish at Train Udom Suksa High School in Bangkok, a city of well over nine million. During the school year she practiced five days a week on 20 different golf courses that Bangkok had to offer. In the summer she would put in over eight hours every day in an effort to improve her game. In her senior year in high school, she was crowned champion at the Singapore Junior Championship, the Florida Golf Association Junior Tournament and at the Optimist International Junior Championship.

She has had to make an adjustment to the inconsistent weather in the United States as opposed to what she was used to seeing in Thailand, which lies near the equator.

“There are three types of weather over there,” Pulsawath said with a smile. “Hot, hotter and hottest.”

The infusion of talent from Thailand to the NCAA Div. I level includes Purdue's first-team All-Big 10 selection Onnarin Sattayabanphot and recent Sun Belt Conference Golfer of the Month, Praenawpa Phol-Uayporn of Florida International, both Bangkok natives.

Pulsawath says that Japanese and Korean players will come to Bangkok for an extended period of time to play on the courses, a testament to the growing popularity of the sport in Thailand. The Thai Golf Assocation helps young golfers realize their dreams by contributing funds for players to participate in international tournaments.

Players Mentioned

Christi Athas

Christi Athas

Kendra Hanson

Kendra Hanson

Karly Pinder

Karly Pinder

Pennapa Pulsawath

Jessica Shin

Jessica Shin

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics