Natthakrit Wongthaweerap, who claimed top honors at the IQT. [Photo=KLPGA]
Natthakrit Wongthaweerap, who claimed top honors at the IQT. [Photo=KLPGA]

Thai long-hitter Natthakrit Wongthaweerap, 24, claimed top honors at the KLPGA 2026 International Qualifying Tournament (IQT).

Wongthaweerap closed with a 1-under-par 71 on Saturday at the South-West Course (par 72) of Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand, finishing at 16-under 272 to win the tournament.

Competing in the IQT for the second consecutive year, Wongthaweerap secured a 2027 KLPGA Tour card as the winner's prize. "I entered the IQT because I wanted to take on a new challenge on the Korean circuit, so I'm really happy to have won," she said.

"I had a minor injury until last week and was quite worried, but fortunately it didn't affect my play much," she added. "I'm even happier that all the preparation and practice I put in led to a good result. Now that I've secured a full-tour card for the 2027 season, I want to compete in every KLPGA event and show what I can do."

Wongthaweerap is a proven talent who finished runner-up at the Honda LPGA Thailand — her LPGA Tour debut — in 2023, and also drew attention that year with a tie for sixth at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii. She has since competed across various tours and has been playing primarily on the Chinese CLPGA Tour this year.

On the KLPGA Tour, Wongthaweerap made her first appearance as an invited player at the 2022 DB Group 36th Korea Women's Open, finishing tied for 29th. Earlier this season she tied for sixth at the Rejuran Championship, the regular-tour season opener held in Thailand.

Wongthaweerap will tee it up next Thursday at the BC Card·Hankyung 48th KLPGA Championship, held at Pocheon Hills Country Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. "When I heard I could enter the tournament, I really wanted to play," she said. "I've been given a great opportunity, so I want to prepare thoroughly and show my best golf."

Godiva Kim, 18, of Australia, making her IQT debut, finished second at 10-under 278. Yoo Da-kyum, a US national and KLPGA I-Tour member who won on the Dream Tour in the 2024 season, took third at 7-under 281.

Players finishing second through eighth will receive direct entry into the final stage of the 2027 KLPGA regular-tour qualifying series, bypassing the preliminary round, while those finishing in the top 10 were awarded 2027 KLPGA Dream Tour cards. The tournament is hosted and organized by the KLPGA, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.


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