At the LaFayette Invitational, freshman Ther Kotchasanmanee shot a tournament record of 67. Currently the No.3-ranked ninth-grader in the world, her stellar performances on the green show she's well on her way to achieving her dream of being a world-famous golfer.
A ninth-grade boarding student from Maeon, Thailand, Kotchasanmanee has been playing golf for seven-and-a-half years. When she was looking for American boarding schools, Darlington stood out for its academics, strong golf program and the opportunity to play at a higher level in the Coosa Junior Golf Academy. Kotchasanmanee competes with both the girls' varsity golf team and Golf Academy.
"Darlington helps me with my education so I can go to college, play golf to develop my skills and enter the LPGA Tour," Kotchasanmanee said.
In addition to the tournaments she plays with Darlington's golf team and the Golf Academy, Kotchasanmanee travels to compete across the United States. Each year, she competes in approximately 12-14 events.
Her proudest accomplishment thus far is placing third out of more than 80 golfers in the age 15-18 girls' division of the Future Champions Golf International in July 2021. She was proud to take home the trophy she earned for her top-three placement and feels that this is a defining moment in her career at this point. She is currently No. 78 in the World Junior Golf Ranking.
"[Ther] works incredibly hard, and her record-setting performance is simply a product of her work ethic," said Jared Willerson, boys' and girls' varsity golf coach. "She is an amazing talent and has all the skills. She knows how to get herself mentally prepared, and that is a rare talent for such a young player."
Looking toward the future, Kotchasanmanee is still exploring her college options, but has high aspirations for her golf career. In the meantime, she is building a strong foundation as a member of Darlington's girls' golf team and the Coosa Junior Golf Academy.
