She’s not quite a unicorn. But Jaravee Boonchant, one of seven Thai players in the field this week at Stage II of LPGA Tour Q-School, is a rarity, like a precious metal or a colonial antique. Boonchant was a four-time All-American at Duke University, which is not something you hear much anymore when it comes to women golfers. One or two All-American certificates and a lot of players jump to the pros. “Strike while the iron is hot,” their agents tell them. “Turn pro now, work your way through Q-Series or the Epson Tour, and finish school online or at some point in the future.”
Boonchant chose a different path.
“I was actually planning to go play Q-School last year,” she said. “But because of COVID, I didn't have a chance. Also, I feel like four years in college is amazing. You can't find those experiences somewhere else. I'm really happy that I got my degree before turning pro. But, yeah, I (als0) like playing with the team. I enjoyed that experience.
“I did not have a plan for turning pro until my junior year in college,” she said. “Going to Duke, or just going to college in general, was always my plan from the start. I just kind of followed (the plan) step by step.
“After staying four years at Duke, I realize how much you grow as a person and as a golfer through the college experience. I got to play against great players on challenging golf courses and in tough conditions, especially at the (NCAA) Nationals. And I think that really helped me get stronger physically and mentally both on and off the golf course. Having my teammates around me and getting to play for a team also trained my mental game. You need to stay focused and try your best for your team.
“I think that will help me as a professional, too.”
The decision to stay in school had another unexpected reward. Boonchant earned the Juli Inkster Award as the top senior in college golf. Not only did Inkster call to congratulate her personally, but Boonchant got to walk inside the ropes with Inkster during a recent practice round and the two will spend time together at an upcoming retreat.
“It was unreal,” she said. “Going into my senior year I did not expect that I would win this award. Just getting the phone call from Juli was amazing. I actually missed her call and she texted me and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh. What should I do?’ I was speechless. I didn’t know how to react when I was on the phone with her. It was just amazing how much she has done for the game of golf. Thank you to Workday and to her for making this award possible.
“It was just amazing. I had fun hanging out with her and walking with her during a practice round. I'm looking forward to the retreats, like two days with her.”
She might be a rarity but Boonchant is not alone. She has had the opportunity to practice and play alongside a number of greats, including her teammates Gina Kim and Virginia Elena Carta who are also at Stage II this week, as well as with LPGA Tour players like Leona Maguire and Ana Belac.
“Seeing them strive for their dreams, that motivates me to practice harder,” Boonchant said. “We're pushing each other to be the best. I don't think I could get to practice with them without going to Duke. So that was a great experience.”
The age difference had some impact on her interactions with Maguire. “I actually did not talk to her that much since she was a senior during my freshman year,” Boonchant said. “But I talk to Ana Belac a lot about her professional life and how her career has gone. She has given me advice. (For example) I played in a couple of LPGA Tour events and missed the cut. Ana texted me and said, ‘Don't let the cut bring you down. It's two tournaments. You still have a long way to go.’ That really encouraged me to practice harder and just kind of brought me back to the game.
“Earlier this week Leona texted me and said, ‘Good luck.’ That really pumped me up. It's very inspiring to see those people who were practicing with you and now they’re on top of the leaderboards and on TV. It motivates me to work harder so that one day I can join them on the tour.”
So, when Boonchant sees a fellow Thai player like Patty Tavatanakit, who took a different route, coming out early from UCLA, win a major in her rookie year, does she have any regrets about how she has approached her career?
“None,” she said. “I'm very happy with my decision. I know that everyone has different routes and different career paths. I'm happy that I got my degree and I'm happy that I took time to finish each step, so now I don't need to worry about school anymore.
“Now, I can just focus on golf and have fun on the course.”
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