Golfer Satarak Leaves UC Irvine After One Year
Walailak Satarak, who was the Big West Conference’s women’s golfer of the year as a freshman at UC Irvine, will attempt to turn pro after one collegiate season, Irvine Coach Kelly Crawford said Friday.
Satarak reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship last week before losing to Pepperdine senior Lindsey Wright. She was named freshman of the year by the National Golf Coaches Assn., winning three tournaments and recording a 73.95 stroke average.
“From a coaching standpoint, losing your No. 1 player is going to make things more challenging,” Crawford said. “But she and her family felt that it was a good time for her to pursue a professional career. I think it was always the plan for her to turn pro early.”
Satarak, a former Paramount High standout, left for LPGA qualifying school Friday and will play for Thailand internationally.
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