Golf Webex Player Series: Thai teen Cholcheva Wongras takes early lead

A Thai teenager is threatening to continue a trend started by Australia’s major winner Hannah Green, after surging to a share of the early lead at the Webex Players Series event on the Murray River.

A Thai teenager is threatening to continue a trend started by Australia’s major winner Hannah Green, as Cholcheva Wongras surged to a share of the early lead at the Webex Players Series event on the Murray River.

Cobram Barooga was the scene of Green’s world-first win against the men three years ago as she became the first female to triumph in a co-ed 72-hole event on a major tour.

Men and women play against each other but from their respective tees in every Players Series event in Australia.

Sarah Jane Smith then backed it up the following year on the Murray River and Wongras hopes to be the third woman to achieve the feat in a tournament which has drawn players from all around Australia and Asia.

“I think the wind was pretty calm and not having too much wind helps,” the 17-year-old said after her opening round seven-under 64 on Thursday in the afternoon wave.

Cholcheva Wongras in action during the Webex Player Series. Golf Australia

“My putting was working today. I played here last year. This year, the ground is so nice and it’s so pure.”

Wongras has already jumped inside the world’s top 350 on the female rankings despite not turning 18, and is destined for further increases on the basis of a sublime performance which featured seven birdies on her first 10 holes after starting on the back nine.

She will spend the majority of her year playing on the Taiwanese tour, but has committed to next week’s Victorian Open, which was only saved late in 2024.

Wongras was joined in a share of the first round lead with New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, who returned to professional golf less than 18 months ago after being diagnosed with cancer, and Western Australia’s Ryan Peake, who both signed for 64s.

Peake is closing in on the top 10 on the PGA Tour of Australasia’s order of merit heading into the final months of the season, while Hendry is sharpening his game for a crack at the New Zealand Open.

Asked if he was surprised with his start at Cobram Barooga, Hendry joked: “The way I’ve been putting, yes.

“My putter has been uncooperative and I actually put a new one in today. I’ve been working with a friend of mine back home on customising it and it really worked nicely today. Hopefully it stays nice and hot.”

Ryan Peake is closing in on the top 10 on the PGA tour of Australasia. Picture: Golf Australia

Peake burst out of the blocks with an eagle on his opening hole and had another seven birdies by the time he finished the 10th, before cooling slightly in the final stages of his round.

It’s the second time Peake has played the event after being an 11th-hour alternate for Marcus Fraser last year.

“You can’t expect to play like that for all 18 holes,” he said. “I was seeing the lines perfectly and rolled them all in.

“Obviously on the back nine the wind started to pick up a little bit and I got a few wedge numbers wrong. (But) I’m very satisfied with that start.”

Jake McLeod continued his hot run of recent form without winning to be just one shot back after a six-under 65, heading a quartet which includes Anthony Quayle, trying to push his case for a top three on the order of merit and a DP World Tour card.

Todd Sinnott was bogey free in his opening 65 to be joined by Brad Kennedy, who narrowly missed making the playoff in last week’s Webex Players Series event on the Mornington Peninsula.

Originally published as Golf Webex Player Series: Thai teen Cholcheva Wongras takes early lead