ST. GEORGE — A new generation of young St. George golfers is making a statement.
As reported previously in St. George News, U.S. Kids Golf has been operating a tour for local pre-teen and teen-aged golfers for a little more than a year now.
And yet in that short amount of time the tour has already produced a handful of emerging golf stars.
Ammon Allred and Dylan Winona golfed at the prestigious U.S. Kids Teens World Championship event at the famous Pinehurst golf courses in North Carolina two weeks ago.
Against the top competition in their age groups from around the world, Allred finished 23rd and Winona finished 42nd.
And then last weekend also in Pinehurst, Crew Finlinson, Eldrick Stoddard and Tangtang Thossansin golfed in the U.S. Kids Junior Worlds.
Golfers from over 50 countries competed at the event, which is said to be the largest tournament in the world for young golfers.
St. George tour director Hans Kirchhausen told St. George News that there are still spots available to join this year’s tour, and information about that can be found here. The first local tour event is at Coral Canyon Golf course on Aug. 24.
Kirchhausen also said that volunteers are vital to keep the tour going, and said information about that can be found here.
Tangtang second at Pinehurst
St. George’s Tangtang Thossansin won second at the U.S. Kids Junior Worlds, shooting -7 at the three-day event. The winner finished at -12.
“It was hilly. It was a a pretty hard course,” Tangtang told St. George News Tuesday. “But I like hard courses.”
No stranger to interviews, Tangtang turns 10-years-old in October. Her family has been in St. George since moving here from Thailand over three years ago.
Coach and father Thoss Thossansin said the strength of her game at Pinehurst was her short game, and she practices her chipping and putting for hours at time, every day.
“I like the putting,” Tangtang said. “I like the sound it makes when it goes in the hole.”
During the school year she practices five hours a day. She said she looks forward to playing for a high school in St. George.
Thoss said that Tangtang is currently ranked No. 2 in the world in her age group.
Photo Gallery
L-R: Eldrick Stoddard and Crew Finlinson golfed in the U.S. Kids Junior Worlds, Pinehurst, North Carolina, Aug. 3, 2024 | Photo courtesy Hans Kirchhausen for St. George News
TangTang Thossansin (fifth from left) at the award ceremony after finishing 2nd at the U.S. Kids Junior Worlds, Pinehurst, North Carolina, Aug. 3, 2024 | Photo courtesy Hans Kirchhausen for St. George News
Crew Finlinson golfed in the U.S. Kids Junior Worlds, Pinehurst, North Carolina, Aug. 3, 2024 | Photo courtesy Hans Kirchhausen for St. George News
L-R: Thoss Thossansin and Tangtang Thossansin enjoy a rare moment without golf, St. George, Utah, Aug. 6, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Tangtang Thossansin at the U.S. Kids Junior Worlds in Pinehurst, North Carolina, Aug. 3, 2024 | Photo courtesy Thoss Thossansin for St. George News
Thoss Thossansin and Tangtang Thossansin at the U.S. Kids Junior Worlds in Pinehurst, North Carolina, Aug. 3, 2024 | Photo courtesy Thoss Thossansin for St. George News
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