b'sponsored byinstitutions in the country. That says asummer but hasnt played another tour lot about not only her performance onevent. As a perk of the award, she played the course but also about her goals andTO HAVE A PLAYERthe Cambia Portland Classic that took passions away from it, Inkster said in aplace at the Oregon Golf Club in West release. I look forward to mentoring Ja- BE HONOREDLinn, Oregon in September. She missed ravee as she navigates the next stage inthe cut in that event, but progressed to her professional and personal journeys. FOR HERStage II of LPGA Q-SchoolBoonchant I also want to thank the Womensalso got a pass into the second stage Golf Coaches Association and WorkdayCOMMITMENTbased on winning the award.for partnering with me on this award,After I turned pro, I didnt really have continued Inkster. To have a player beTO HER SCHOOL,a mentor, said Boonchant, who says honored for her commitment to herformer Duke players like Ana Belac as school, coaches and her teammates isCOACHES ANDwell as Thai LPGA player Pajaree Anan-what this award is all about. HER TEAMMATESnarukarn have fielded some of her many Boonchant graduated from Dukequestions. Duke assistant coach Jon in April with a degree in Statistics. AIS WHAT THISWhithaus also helped her on her way.three-time All-ACC and four-time All- Professional golf is a very different American selection, she accumulated aAWARD IS ALLarena, however, and with her parents 71.99 stroke average over four seasons,back in Thailand, Boonchant is largely the third-best career stroke average inABOUT. navigating it alone. She has booked Duke history. She finished her seniorher own rental cars and made her own season ranked No. 13 in the Golfweek/ JULI INKSTER hotel arrangements in this first foray Sagarin College Rankings. into the next stage.She turned professional after theIt would be nice if I could know national championship and began tobeforehand the difficulties I might face chart her professional career, playingon this journey, said Boonchant when the Texas Womens Open (she finishedasked what she hopes to learn from her T5) and competing on the Womenstime with Inkster.All-Pro Tour. With the award, Boonchant receives $50,000 from WorkDay as starting-out NOT LONG AFTER STARTING thatmoney to help with expenses. But she adventure, she got a call from Inksteralso scores face time with Inkster in herself, who broke the news thatthe form of a two-day retreat with the Boonchant had won her namesakeLPGA legend.award. All Boonchant knew was that sheI think I would love to just play a was supposed to pick up the phone callround with her, Boonchant said. That that would be coming from a numberwould also offer the chance to pick her she didnt recognize. brain on all things LPGA, from choosing So when I got a call from Juli, I wastournaments to mental game to dealing like, Wow, she said. I wasnt sure if shewith the pressure.called to say that I won the award or if someone else won it. This article originally appeared Boonchant Monday-qualified for thein Golfweek. Check out more LPGAs Marathon Classic earlier thisarticles at www.Golfweek.com.TROON MAGAZINE43'