The 21-year-old from Chonburi carded a final round 66 for a total 17 under-par-271 to beat Taiwanese Babe Liu by two shots in the opening qualifying stage of the Korea LPGA Tour, which takes her, along with Liu and third-placed finisher Chayanit Wang,ahaporn (amateur), to the third qualifying stage in South Korea later this year.

“I’m excited and glad. It’s a good start for me,” said Kanyalak who also won Bt150,000 in prize money as the champion. “I had a great week. All the players were really tough. My goal is to do well in the final stage as I hope to earn a card on the KLPGA Tour.”

Kanyalak who celebrated her biggest career victory at this course two years ago when she won the Ladies European Thailand Championship decorated her round with five birdies, one eagle on the 13th hole against a drop shot on the 17th holes.

By winning the first stage, Kanyalak is eligible for the Dream Tour, a secondary tour behind the KLPGA. She will also be given a slot into the KLPGA Championship in 2020.

However, Kanyalak needs to finish in the top 70 of the third stage to get a full card for KLPGA 2020.

“How many times have you re-watched Austria?” Marquez: “No more than twice.” Dovi: “At least 7 times!”

Dovi won the most recent race at Silverstone Rossi is raring to race at the classic venue

Quartararo cracks up Miller had a very different Thursday in the UK

Crutchlow has a podium and pole at his home GP Lorenzo returns

Day of Champions 30

Silverstone hosts the now-legendary fundraising day in aid of Two Wheels for Life

Rossi with the fans who flocked in on Thursday

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (third from right) and his wife Maria with the Two Wheels for Life team

Marquez on stage Viñales strikes a pose

Rins and Guintoli entertain the masses Petrucci and Dovizioso represent the red corner

The 20-year-old from Bangkok fired five birdies, one eagle against a lone bogey to share the second place alongside Nicole Broch Larsen of Denmark, South Korean Jin Young Ko and two local hopes Anne Catherine Tanguay and defending champion Brooke Henderson.

2016 champion Ariya Jutanugarn and her sister Moriya were no where near their form as each hit a 73.

With a berth on the USA Solheim Cup Team on the line, Annie Park stepped up with a 7-under 65 to take the 18-hole lead. At No. 42 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, just one spot behind fellow American Austin Ernst, Park needs a good finish to propel her into an automatic qualifying spot for Team USA. She did just that on Thursday, with a solid round highlighted by a 30-yard putt for an eagle-3 at No. 9 and six other birdies.

“I was just trying to break my own personal record. Just wanted to go to 9-under,” said Park, winner of the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic. “Tough 17th hole, tough break there; had a bogey. Tried to make up for it on the last one and just fell short. Hopefully maybe tomorrow or this week or someday I can break my own personal record.”

Henderson easily had the largest crowds of the day, with the Canadian superstar putting on a show in the first round of her title defense. Her 6-under 66 matched her opening round from 2018, when she went on to win the CP Women’s Open and become just the second Canadian winner in championship history.

“It’s nice to be in a position where I had a good round; everything seemed to go right for me,” said Henderson. “Hopefully I can continue to stick to my game plan, make a lot of birdies, and I would love to be in this position on Sunday.”

HENDERSON PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF

It was déjà vu all over again for Canadian superstar Brooke Henderson. The 21-year-old showed no signs of stress from all the pressure put on her as the defending CP Women’s Open champion, shooting a first-round 66 to sit one stroke behind first-round leader Annie Park.

“Knowing I was capable of winning this event after having done it last year I just think gave me a lot of confidence,” said Henderson, who also shot a first-round 66 in 2018. “Made me more comfortable in front of these crowds. Just knowing that I’ve done it before I think just gave me a little, just relaxed me a little bit. Made me a little bit more calm. I think that’s key when I’m playing well.”

Henderson returned a steady round of seven birdies and one bogey on Thursday, much to the thrill of the Canadian throngs that followed her around Magna Golf Club. She stuffed her approach on No. 18 to 6 feet and walked up to the green soaking in the thunderous applause from the fans ringing the green.

“To have this many people out on Thursday morning is pretty special. They’re cheering for me bright and early, so that’s pretty cool,” said Henderson. “To get a solid round like this in in front of them I think is really a confidence booster for me; gives me a lot of momentum going into the next three days.”

Should Henderson successfully defend her title on Sunday, she would become the third player to defend a CP Women’s Open victory, joining Lydia Ko (2012, 2013) and Pat Bradley (1985, 1986). She has already won back-to-back tournament titles twice in her career, taking wins at the 2018 and 2019 LOTTE Championship and the 2015 and 2016 Cambia Portland Classic.

HOT ROUND FOR TANGUAY

A bogey-free 6-under 66 on Thursday put Anne-Catherine Tanguay into a tie for second heading into the second round of the CP Women’s Open. That round, tied for the best of her LPGA Tour career, was fueled by a red-hot second nine that saw the 28-year-old Quebecer card five birdies.

“I built some momentum early in the round. The greens I felt like I was having a hard time like picking up the speed early on in my round,” said Tanguay, who came to Magna Golf Club fresh off a four-week competitive break. “But then the back nine just felt like I couldn’t miss with my putter, to be honest. It was really good. I was over the ball and I just kind of had this feeling it might go in, so just give to a shot.”

Tanguay is looking for a breakthrough moment on the LPGA Tour. Her rookie year of 2016 was followed by a 2017 spent primarily on the Symetra Tour, where she won the Garden City Charity Classic and had five other top-10 finishes. Despite playing a full LPGA schedule in 2018, Tanguay placed 124th on the Money List and was forced to compete in the inaugural LPGA Q-Series, where she tied for eighth to secure a full card again for 2019.

NO. 1 KO ONE SHOT BACK IN CANADA

After two weeks off from LPGA Tour play, World No. 1 Jin Young Ko showed no signs of rust in Thursday’s opening round of the CP Women’s Open. Despite not seeing the back nine of Magna Golf Club prior to the first round, the two-time 2019 major champion hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and fired a bogey-free 66.

Ko’s caddie David Brooker arrived in Canada late Wednesday evening, so Ko had him scout out the course on Thursday morning. Ko said their trusting caddie-player relationship was key to her first-round success. “We had trust, and that’s why I play really good today,” she said.

Ko is making her first start since winning The Evian Championship and then finishing T3 at the AIG Women’s British Open, but she didn’t take too much time off as she flew straight from England to Korea to play in the Jeju Samdasoo Masters tournament. Ko finished T13 in the rain-shortened KLPGA event before taking a week off.

“After that I rest a week with my family and my dog, and then I met my friend a little bit and then I practice and then I came here on Saturday,” said Ko. “I practiced at the range. My feeling was really amateur. Oh, my God. I needed to practice a lot. So on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I practiced hard.”

Ko, a notorious Brooks Koepka fan, was asked after her round about the infamous ESPN Body Issue photo circling the Internet. “I saw,” she said with a red face and a coy smile. “Someone tag me… I clicked, who is that? It was Brooks.”

Despite her limited playing schedule, just one week ago Pettersen was announced by European Solheim Cup Captain Catriona Matthew as one of her picks for the 2019 Solheim Cup. Pettersen admitted that she wasn’t positive she would return to the LPGA at one point during her extended leave but is fully back in the swing of things with her eyes set on Gleneagles.

“I am just really excited to be out playing,” Pettersen said on Wednesday at Magna Golf Club. “The fun of playing this game has definitely come back to me. At times I probably been one of the toughest there is out here, especially on myself and to my own expectations. I wouldn’t say I have no expectations, but I’m a lot more laid back. I still know what my game should be like and how I want to play. Obviously the good stuff is great. There is still some rust in there. Like I said, the more I play, the better the overall game gets. I feel very confident that by the time Solheim is around I’ll be in top form.”

For the first time since her son Herman was born last August, Pettersen will be away from him for an extended period, playing in Canada this week and in Portland next week. While it’s challenging to return to the LPGA Tour and not see Herman, she’s feeling great about her game and has a fresh perspective as a mother.

“I’m kind of creating new routines. I’m not trying to pick up where I left it because priorities are different; my time is a little different,” said Pettersen, who is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of her 2009 CP Women’s Open victory. “But these two weeks I left everyone at home so I can kind of get the preparation and the hard work done for what’s coming in three or four weeks. I thought that was my best option. I would just love to go out and compete, get sharp. For each shot that I hit, each round that I play, I feel like the game is getting better and better. So, no, I feel great. Obviously great to be back, see all the other players. Some players I haven’t seen for almost two years.”

Pettersen will tee off the first round at 8:21 a.m. off the first tee on Thursday alongside Solheim Cup teammate Bronte Law and Team USA hopeful Ally McDonald.

15 CANADIANS IN CP WOMEN’S OPEN FIELD

The 2019 CP Women’s Open features 15 Canadian players competing for their national championship. It is a wide-ranging group of players at various points in their careers. Canadian golf icon and CP Ambassador Lorie Kane is competing in her 29th consecutive CP Women’s Open, the most in championship history, while 12-year-old Michelle Liuwill become the youngest competitor in championship history when she tees off on Thursday.

Liu, who earned a spot in the field after finishing as the low Canadian amateur at the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur, was in awe of her experience so far in her first-ever professional event.

“I’m looking forward to being able to play with even more great players, especially in like the environment of a professional golf tournament,” said Liu, who understandably named defending champion Brooke Henderson as the player she was most excited to see. “I think it’s definitely going to be a challenge for me and my mental game to be able to focus and like keep my mind on like each and every shot.”

Alena Sharp has been on the LPGA Tour since 2005 and has certainly seen the strength of Canadian golf grow over her tenure.

“It’s very nice to see a lot of Canadians playing in the field this week. There are a lot of Canadians doing really on the Symetra Tour. I know that they’re working hard to get out here, and I think golf in Canada is on the rise,” said Sharp, who is competing in her 16th CP Women’s Open. “Obviously with Brooke leading the way with her win last year it’s really put Canada on the map. It’s nice to see that the hard work that Golf Canada is putting in in their programs is coming to light.”

In 2019, there are seven Canadian players on the LPGA Tour – Henderson, Kane, Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Jaclyn Lee, Brittany Marchand, Sharp and Anne-Catherine Tanguay, with Kane and Leblanc playing limited schedules. Canada is also well-represented on the Symetra Tour, with five to 10 Canadian players competing in any given week. There are 20 Canadian golfers at this week’s Stage I of LPGA Qualifying School in Palm Desert, Calif., the most of any country other than the United States. Many of these players came up through Golf Canada’s strong developmental program, a thread that ties these golfers together as they grow their careers.

“We’re really, really tight. I mean, to have five Canadians full time on the LPGA this year, it was big. I mean, we play our practice rounds together; we go out to dinner. We really try to support each other in every way we can,” said Tanguay. “Jaclyn Lee being here this week and she’s injured, so I just had a conversation with her about that injury. We’re trying to support her and be there for her. It’s just been really, really cool having some role models as well. Like I try to be a role model for the younger girls. I was fortunate to have Alena that was there and Lorie Kane that came before me and did that for me. So I’m happy to do it too for the younger girls.”

#CPHASHEART BENEFITS SICKKIDS FOUNDATION

Since CP assumed title sponsorship in 2014, the CP Women’s Open has raised $8.5 million in support of children’s heart health.

The 2019 tournament benefits SickKids Foundation, which raises funds on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children, a pediatric teaching hospital in Toronto. The foundation is Canada’s largest funder of child health research, learning and care. The funds raised at the 2019 CP Women’s Open will help SickKids updated a Cardiac Operating Unit at the hospital. Additionally, a donation will be made to the Southlake Regional Health Centre.

Perhaps the most visible charitable portion of the tournament is the Birdies for Heart program. For each birdie made at the par-3 17th hole, CP will donate $5,000 to SickKids. Additionally, at Tuesday night’s Draw Party, the opportunity to play a pro-am round with CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson and Jessica Korda was auctioned off. The winning team purchased that opportunity for $45,000, with CP donating that amount, totaling $90,000 going to SickKids.

Seeing the changing room, walking through the tunnel onto the pitch and staring up at the stands, the two got a look around the stadium and had a fairly expert guide to see them around – goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The trio talked similarities, differences, support and pressure as they filmed some content for the club and for MotoGP™…and got geared up for another weekend of racing at the legendary Silverstone Circuit.

Top photo L-R: Crutchlow, Kepa and Viñales on the pitch

Behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge

Shop talk on the pitch“We speak the same language”…and the home of the British GP! Crutchlow (L) with Kepa and Viñales (R) in the changing room
Cal Crutchlow: “It’s been great, it’s good to do something different and especially before the British Grand Prix this weekend, it’s going to be a big event for us and these guys see big events every week. To be here at Stamford Bridge is a privilege for me and Maverick and good exposure for MotoGP before the British Grand Prix this weekend.

“I think Kepa, in the position he plays, he’s quite alone and with us being alone with the bike it relates a bit. But the pressure the guys have here at Stamford Bridge, most of the crowd are for the team so I think the pressure is enormous…whereas in MotoGP it’s shared around a lot with different riders. But overall yeah, being an athlete is being an athlete and you have to try and perform at your maximum.”

Maverick Viñales: “Honestly it’s fantastic. I’ve been a big fan of Chelsea since I was a kid and it’s fantastic to be here. It’s a dream come true, you know, something unbelievable!

“Kepa and I speak the same language so it’s very easy. We spoke about the games this season, also our season. It was a good chat, he’s a good guy!

“For sure when you’re at the maximum level of every sport, it’s very similar, you need the same adrenaline. So there are similarities for sure, for sure the speed is different, everything is different. But you know, the pressure, you have to win – so this is very similar too.”

Kepa Arrizabalaga: “It’s really cool to meet with two of the biggest riders at the top of MotoGP, it’s good to have them here at Stamford Bridge so they can get to know a little more about football!

“Football is very different to MotoGP but I think some things are similar: the adrenaline of the last lap, two riders close together, I think the adrenaline is very similar on the pitch!”

Crutchlow and Viñales: smiles for milesHeading inside the stadiumKickabout: Viñales held his own pretty well!Viñales gives Kepa a helmetCrutchlow hands over a shirt
Then it was on to the next stop on the other side of the city, with reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) joining Crutchlow for a tour of national UK media. Radio, TV, magazines and websites welcomed the two to the UK ahead of the biggest event on the UK motorcycling calendar, with the world-famous London landmark of the Gherkin playing host for most.

Now the two complete the short hop north to Northamptonshire and Silverstone, where practice for the GoPro British Grand Prix begins on Friday before the race on Sunday at 13:00 local time (GMT +1).

Crutchlow (L) and Marquez talk…sportMarquez strikes a pose in front of the city

Organisers said there will be 8 categories – men’s and women’s team, singles and mixed doubles sepak takraw, plus men’s and women’s loop takraw.

Dr Chalerm Chaivacharaporn, president of the Sepak Takaraw Association of Thailand, said the challenge system would be implemented this year to ensure fairness and preempt protests.

He said Thailand will not compete in mixed doubles, in order to give others chances of winning medals.

Mono 29 will televise three matches live – men’s and women’s singles finals starting from 4 pm on August 30, women’s team final from 4 pm on August 31 and men’s team final (Kings Cup match) on September 1, also from 4 pm.

According to the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), all tickets were sold within five minutes of being available on Monday for the September 5 clash in the Asian zone’s second qualifying round for the World Cup 2020.

Vietnamese fans have been allocated their own area between stand A and stand D. The price for a travelling supporter is Bt650.

Meanwhile, tickets for local Thai fans are Bt500 for a place in stand A and Bt200 for a place in stand D.

Earlier, nearly 20,000 tickets for Thai fans sold out on August 5 and 11.

Vietnam are in Group G alongside Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the UAE. They will gather at a training camp on August 25 to prepare for the event which will take place at 25,000-seat Thammasat Stadium in Rangsit.

Day 2 of the KymiRing test is now done and dusted for MotoGP™ manufacturers’ test teams, with better weather early on Tuesday allowing everyone some dry track time and with it, a new – although unofficial – fastest lap of the venue. That fastest lap was set by Aprilia test rider Bradley Smith, who put in a 1:47.540 to top the timesheets before action was cut a little short as the weather closed back in.

Whilst it stayed dry and sunny earlier in the day, Honda test rider Stefan Bradl bounced back from a crash midway through yesterday to end the test second quickest, 0.324 behind Smith. After using a ‘salad box’ yesterday, Bradl’s RC213V was seen without it for the entirety of Tuesday’s track time.

Ducati’s Michele Pirro, meanwhile, had an eventful day on Tuesday but it ended in him finishing the test third quickest. The Italian was the only faller after a crash at Turn 11, rider ok, and Pirro was then later seen testing a larger ‘salad box’ than was spotted yesterday – that’s as well as a modified aero fairing that broke cover. Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli, fresh from being announced as Joan Mir’s replacement for the British Grand Prix, ended the day just over a tenth adrift of Pirro in fourth.

KTM’s Mika Kallio was again the first rider out on track on Tuesday to the delight of the Finnish fans in attendance, and he completed the most laps of the day: an apt 36. Yamaha’s Jonas Folger was just a tenth behind Kallio, with all six riders separated by just over a second and a half.

That’s it from the second and final day of testing in Finland, with data gathered for both Michelin and the factories alike and work now continuing to prepare for the track’s future debut on the MotoGP™ calendar .

Bradl speeds past the treesGuintoli as the weather moves back in…Pirro crashed on Day 2, rider okKallio was first out once againFolger flits past the Finnish paint jobTop photo: Smith was fastest on the Aprilia
Some thoughts on Day 2:Bradley Smith: “I think in general we’re quite happy with the test, we’ve been able to try the track in the rain and dry, for Michelin we’ve been able to gather information in both conditions.

“For MotoGP the track is quite tight, the first part of the track, the first five corners are really nice, and Sector 3 I like a lot. But Sectors 2 and 4 is quite tight. I like it because it’s different, in the World Championship it’s important to have different circuits and a different challenge for the riders.”

Stefan Bradl: “We were suffering a bit with the weather yesterday, it’s wasn’t so easy to find your way around. But we got some data, first impressions and congratulations to them for building this great facility here in Finland, people are so excited and thankful they’ll have a GP.

“From a rider point of view, it’s quite slow in places and there are a lot of changes of direction. It’s hard to say much right now because we weren’t pushing at absolutely 100% because of the track conditions, but my first impression is good.”

Timo Pohjola, KymiRing Circuit Director: “I think these two days have shown all of us that we’ve succeeded in the work we’ve done. We’re now on the way to the first Finnish GP and although a lot of work is still to be done, these days show we’re going the right way.

“I’m sure you’ve realised that it’s a work day, Tuesday, but still the spectator area is full of fans…I think that shows everyone how important it is to have MotoGP here!”

Tabuena had done well at the Sarawak Championship last week, and will be looking to better that fifth placed finish in his third tournament in Malaysia this year.

“That’s where I started, so it’s always nice to go back to the course you played before.

“I  haven’t been playing much, I need more tournaments under my belt,” said Tabuena.

A right leg injury suffered at the Maybank Championship in March had significantly derailed the Filipino’s season.

Due to that, Tabuena had been reduced to only playing in eight tournaments this year, but he wants to make his ninth outing count.

“It was like an electric shock going down my right leg, and I felt really numb. But my fitness is there and I am raring to go. So while I did ask for an invite from the promoters, I am also here to win.”

The two-time Asian Tour winner has fond memories of playing in Malaysia.

Tabuena finished tied-second at the Maybank Championship Malaysia in 2016, and enjoyed his best result of the year on the Asian Tour at the Sarawak Championship last week.

“It’s all about playing well in the right weeks. I just have to keep playing good golf and the rest will take care of itself.”

The 24-year-old will also be out to alter history in his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) event since 2016 as he aims to triumph in this event previously dominated by Malaysian golfers.

Danny Chia is a two-time winner, while Ben Leong and Gavin Green have also won once.

Both Danny and Ben will be in the fray this time, leading the local charge.

Thailand’s Pannakorn Uthaipas will be among the favourites for the title with the 2017 ADT Order of Merit winner having already clinched the PGM ADT Johor Championship in March.

Shakhawat Hossain of Bangladesh will also among the contenders, having triumphed in an ADT event in Malaysia last year.

The PGM Northport ADT Championship offers a total prize purse of RM225,000.

As a member of the ONE Championship senior leadership team, Di Blasi is responsible for developing business strategies and plans, executing strategic B2B and marketing activities, acquiring and managing relationships with key accounts, and ensuring strong stakeholder management across the Italian business ecosystem. He will represent ONE Championship in Italy and help drive the culture of the company’s core values in the market.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It is my pleasure to announce that Carlo Di Blasi has been named President of ONE Championship Italy. Carlo is a well-respected figure in the European martial arts industry, particularly with the work he has put in towards developing Muay Thai and kickboxing, as well as mixed martial arts in Italy. With Carlo’s business and domain expertise, he plays a key role in shaping the future of ONE Championship. As our organization establishes strong roots in locations around the world, the ONE Championship brand continues to flourish globally. Our goal is to ignite the world with strength, hope, dreams, and inspiration through the power of martial arts. I have no doubt that Carlo will do a tremendous job in his new role.”

Carlo Di Blasi, President of ONE Championship Italy, stated: “Experiencing a ONE Championship event live for the first time, I immediately understood this is the future of martial arts. Getting to know the ONE Championship team – Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, Vice Chairman Saurabh Mittal, and Group President Hua Fung Teh, and all the amazing people in the company – it’s the most incredible team I’ve ever seen. I know here at ONE Championship, we are going to change the world. I am proud to be President of ONE Championship Italy and even more proud to be part of this organization. I will do my best to help ONE Championship take martial arts to the next level.”

Before joining the organization as President of ONE Championship Italy, Di Blasi previously served as Italian representative for the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) and the World Muay Federation (WMF). He was a Board Member of the International Federation of Savate (FISAV), and Vice President of the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA).

Di Blasi also boasts of professional experience as a promoter for K1 Italy, GLORY Kickboxing, Oktagon, and Victory World Series tournaments across Europe in countries such as Sweden, Italy, France, Hungary, Slovakia, Russia, Panama, and Bielorissia.

A former Savate Italian Champion, Di Blasi served for the Italian Army as Carabinieri in the Anti-Drug Department of the Special Forces. A graduate of Law at the University of Milan, Di Blasi speaks Italian, English, German, French, and Spanish.