Pajaree Anannarukarn advances to semifinals for first time in Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play | LPGA

In one of the biggest upsets of Saturday’s quarterfinals, Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn defeated two-time LPGA Tour winner Carlota Ciganda, defeating the Spaniard 3 and 2 to advance to the semifinals for the first time in the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play. powered by MGM Rewards.

Anannarukarn opened strongly, birdied the first and fourth holes to take an early 2-up lead, but Ciganda retaliated, bogeying the 5th to get back to 1 under and then birdying for eagle on the par-5, 9th. things up. Ciganda turned the match with a birdie on the par-4 11th, but Anannarukarn wasn’t going to go quietly. He birdied No. 12 to square the match, then went par-birdie-par to take a 3-up lead with three holes to play. In the end, Anannarukarn needed just a pair to clinch his fourth win of the week and move into the quarter-finals on Sunday morning.

“It was a great round on the second 18. It was obviously very tiring for me because I didn’t really get to play 36 holes that much, so it was a great learning experience as well. I feel like my body started feeling a bit numb on day 5 and 6, so I’m glad I was able to follow it all the way to day 16,” Anannarukarn said. “I thought he played great after that Eagle on the 9th, so it was a very tight match. I just tried to focus on my game. Again, I’m just trying to take it one shot at a time and not try to get too ahead of myself.”

This will be Anannarukarn’s ninth start of the 2023 season, and in her eight previous LPGA Tour appearances, she has missed one cut and managed to record just two top-20 finishes, a pair of T18s at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and DIO Implant LA. Open. As he looks ahead to the next grueling match day with 36 possible holes, the Thai is doing his best to stay positive despite the challenging conditions, which has served him well this week.

“I was really patient there and I think it worked for me,” Anannarukarn said. “I just told myself to stay patient again because it’s hot here and everyone is tired, everyone feels the same way. So I do that and try to stay positive as much as I can.