Zoe Jiamanukoonkit is sitting on a bench outside her Torrey Pines High School U.S. History class. One of her golf teammates mentioned that Zoe’s range practice sessions often stretch four hours. A visitor asks for proof.
So Jiamanukoonkit turns her hands, palms up, and sure enough those palms, particularly on her dominant left hand, are thick with callouses a welder would admire.
“Her swing is incredible, her rhythm, her tempo and timing,” said Chris Smeal, Zoe’s private coach. “Everything’s really good. And she works real hard. That’s a pretty good combination.”
Practice may not make perfect, but hours of swinging golf clubs have molded Jiamanukoonkit, a 16-year-old junior, into one of Southern California’s best golfers.
Last fall as a sophomore, she pulled off an impressive double. Jiamanukoonkit won the CIF San Diego Section individual tournament by five strokes, then 13 days later won the State Championship by three strokes at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
Pretty heady stuff for a then-sophomore who midway through last season didn’t even know there was a CIF individual tournament.
“I didn’t know what anything was,” she said.
“She’s chill,” said teammate Jinjutha Maneerat. “Even if she does bad, she doesn’t act it out.”
Added Torrey Pines head coach Chris Drake, who’s in his 17th season leading the Falcons girls: “What I’ve seen in my experience, like the best golfers, you can’t tell if she’s playing well or playing poorly.”
Jiamanukoonkit’s success is continuing during her junior season. In 10 team matches this year, seven times she has broken par and three times been the medalist.
Jiamanukoonkit was born and raised in Thailand, near Bangkok. After playing in a San Diego Junior Golf Association tournament in the summer of 2021, her family moved to Carmel Valley. They arrived that December.
“At the time, COVID in Thailand, things weren’t going well,” she said. “I didn’t play many tournaments. Things were shut down. Nothing was really like progressing. We thought I’d have a better opportunity for school and college golf. I think it’s been a lot better.”
Jiamanukoonkit attended Maranatha Christian the first semester of her freshman season but didn’t play high school golf. Her performance at high school and junior tournaments since then has led to interest from college coaches.
She has taken college visits to Houston, Colorado and Long Beach State. She said she’s also considering Cal and Oregon.
The LPGA Tour is filled with talented Thai golfers. Sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutangarn have won a combined 15 tournaments and nearly $20 million. Ariya has won two majors.
Jeeno Thiotikul, a 21-year-old sensation, has already earned three wins and $5.5 million.
“In Thailand, it’s kind of like everyone’s in the same community,” said Jiamanukoonkit. “My mom has the Jutangarns’ dad’s cell number. I’m proud of being Thai, and I want to represent Thailand.”
Jiamnukoonki is long and straight off the tee. Her drives average 230-240 yards, but her biggest strength is her iron play.
“She doesn’t miss very much,” said Smeal.
Playing in a match last Tuesday at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club, Jiamanukoonkit’s drive on the par-4 No. 1 stopped just short of a fairway bunker. She solved the dilemma by hitting an 8 iron 135 yards uphill to 8 feet from the cup.
“That’s her,” said Drake.
Using the term golfers often use to describe hitting irons far and straight, Jiamanukoonkit said, “I’m a ball-striker.”
On a talented team that features 10 of the section’s top 24 ranked golfers, Jiamanukoonkit is well-liked by her peers.
The Falcons travel to matches by van, which includes a music speaker. Jiamanukoonkit sometimes hogs selections, singing tracks by her favorite artist, Olivia Rodrigo.
“She’s pretty loud,” said Maneerat. “Like so loud.”
“She’s got a wonderful personality,” said Smeal. “I don’t know where her humor comes from, but she’s really funny. She’s a fantastic player, and I love working with her.”
While her 14-letter surname may look difficult to pronounce, broken down by the six syllables, it rolls off the tongue. But she understands some struggle with the pronunciation.
“When they announce my name at the tee box, sometimes they just panic,” she said. “It’s just like bad. It’s just like messy.”
She doesn’t yet drive a car.
“I can drive a golf cart,” she quipped.
At last year’s state tournament, Torrey Pines tied for first in the team competition, but officially finished second because Santa Margarita’s sixth golfer scored lower than Torrey Pines’.
The person who consoled the Falcons’ No. 6 golfer: Jiamanukoonkit.
“That’s quintessential her,” said Drake.
“I didn’t want her to feel she’s the reason why we lost,” said Jiamanukoonkit. “Everyone’s a part of it. I three-putted twice that day. That shouldn’t have happened.”
The CIF San Diego Section team and individual tournaments will be staged Nov. 4 and 6, first at Balboa Golf Course, then Torrey Pines North.
Jiamanukoonkit will try to defend her title. It will be an upset if she doesn’t earn the privilege of defending her state championship.
Does she feel pressure?
Leaning against a wall outside her U.S. History class, the girl with the long surname offered a concise answer.
“Not really,” she said. “I feel like I’m going to do my best and hope for the best.”
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