At 13, Sisters Can Only Play Like the Pros

RANCHO MIRAGE — So what’s next for Aree and Naree Song Wongluekiet, the 13-year-old twin sisters? They’re not even sure, just don’t expect them to join the LPGA, because they can’t.

Players must be at least 18 years old to be an LPGA member, which means that the precocious Thai twins are going to have to wait. But that doesn’t mean they can’t play in LPGA events like the Nabisco Championships, where Aree tied for 10th and became the youngest player to enter, make the cut and finish that high in an LPGA major.

Naree missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 82.

What road the Wongluekiet sisters follow in their young careers is something they don’t even know, although the LPGA rules allow a maximum of four events a year for non-members, either through sponsor’s exemptions or qualifying.

That number doesn’t count the Women’s U.S. Open, which is a U.S. Golf Assn. event. The Wongluekiets have indicated they will attempt to qualify for the Open, which will be played at the Merit Club in Libertyville, Ill., July 20-23.

The Nabisco counts as the second tournament for the Wongluekiets this year. They failed to qualify at the Subaru Memorial of Naples in Florida in February. The twins have hinted they may try to qualify in the Chick-fil-A Championship at Stockbridge, Ga., in two weeks and the Philips Invitational at Austin, Tex., the following week--if they don’t receive sponsor’s exemptions.

The Wongluekiets were born in Thailand and began playing golf at 7 1/2 to be with their father. In Jong Song sold a hotel he owned in Thailand so he could enroll his children in the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Ineligible to play most junior events until they turned 13, the Wongluekiets have combined for 11 national titles and four of the last five major girls’ championships. Aree won the U.S. Girls’ title last summer, the youngest winner ever. She is ranked No. 2 nationally and Aree is ranked No. 3.

“These twins are not just normal 13-year-olds,” Annika Sorenstam said. “They are pretty incredible.”

Sorenstam said when she was 13, she played to a 36 handicap. Karrie Webb said she had a 13 handicap when she was the twins’ age.

Dottie Pepper says she admires the Wongluekiets’ abilities, but hopes they become well-rounded individuals as well.

“The kids are obviously extremely talented,” Pepper said. “I hope the golf thing doesn’t get in the way of their entire upbringing.”

Naree Wongluekiet, who did not make the cut at the Nabisco, said she and her sister have not decided about going to college and may turn pro instead.

“It depends on a lot of factors, such as how much we improve, if we think we belong on the next level, our maturity and things like that,” Naree said.

According to LPGA rules, players who are 16 can petition for early entry to waive the 18-year-old mandate. No one has ever done so.

The last player to graduate from high school and turn pro is Dorothy Delasin of Daly City, who turned pro last year and earned her LPGA Tour card with a fourth-place finish at qualifying school. Christie Kerr in 1997 and Michelle McGann in 1989 also turned pro after finishing high school.

Meanwhile, the Wongluekiets are more concerned about finishing junior high school. The twins brought their homework with them this week . . . algebra, English, Spanish, science, the normal course work for 13-year-olds.

Neither one seemed the least bit overwhelmed by playing in her first major championship.

Said Aree: “When I’m out there, I don’t think about anything else except just playing my game and sticking to my game plan and just hitting shots.”

Said Naree: “It’s just a blur of colors. I focus on my game and that’s all I think about.”

As far as interviews go, they’ve got the pro lingo mastered already.