Chayanun Named Golfweek National Player of the Week

AMES, Iowa - Chonlada Chayanun is the lone senior on the Iowa State women's golf team and she is on her way to finish as one of the greatest Cyclones of all-time.

At the recent Lady Puerto Rico Classic, Chayanun was able to add possibly her biggest accomplishment of her historic career, winning her first career tournament. She did it in impressive fashion, too. Holding an eight-shot lead heading into the final, the senior took medalist honors by a five-stroke margin.

Posting rounds of 66-69-74, Chayanun set the ISU school 54-hole record at 209. Golfweek recognized her outstanding efforts by naming Chayanun its national player of the week.

“I actually didn't think about how many shots I was leading by, I was kind of like, 'Okay, I'm going to do my best tomorrow,'” Chayanun said. “I knew I had an eight-shot lead. I didn't put pressure on myself at all. I was just trying to do my best.”

A five-shot victory is extraordinary in any tournament, not to mention that the Lady Puerto Rico Classic was a 15-team field which featured nine teams ranked in the nation's top-50 according to Golfweek.

“That's huge, and I think it also gives her a perspective of, 'Who can I compete against?' If she can win in this field by five, she should really be able to be in contention every single week,” ISU head coach Christie Martens said. “I think that's a big step for her, especially as she goes on in her career. She can compete with anyone.”

Chayanun has been tearing it up on the course lately. She has carded four sub-70 rounds out of her last six (67-69-81-66-69-74) to bring her career total to 10. She is practically rewriting the record book. She holds the top three scores for low 18-hole round (65-66-67) in Cyclone history, all recorded this season.

Her career 74.79 stroke average is also best in school history.