Tangtiphaiboontana Shows Perseverance

Jenni Tangtiphaiboontana became known during this golf season as “the girl with the long last name,” but it turns out she is a lot more.

She proved during the high school season to be a fighter with incredible mental toughness and a talented player with a bright future.

A senior at Long Beach Wilson, Tangtiphaiboontana has battled through the personal tragedy of both her parents being killed in a car accident in November 2001, and though she deals daily with emotions most can’t comprehend, she has persevered and succeeded in one of the most mentally demanding sports.

She shot two-under-par 70, beating 131 golfers to win the Southern Section individual title. She shot 75 and tied for fifth in Southern California in the CIF-WSCGA. The Moore League champion for the third consecutive year, Tangtiphaiboontana was medalist in 10 of Wilson’s 14 matches, broke par seven times and finished two over par for the season.

She is The Times’ girls’ golfer of the year.

“I’m pretty happy with this season,” said Tangtiphaiboontana, who has committed to Stanford. “I’m really happy with the individual part; I just wish the team had done a little better.”

The Bruins began the Southern Section finals as favorites after an undefeated regular season and a victory at the Central Divisional qualifier. They shot 452 in the finals -- about 30 strokes higher than their season average -- and finished fifth.

Tangtiphaiboontana’s sad story was the talk of the junior golf circuit when she finished second at the U.S. Girls Championship in August, but the happy ending to her high school golf season was among the most popular victories this season.

“I was very happy for her,” said Amie Cochran, the West Torrance player who finished runner-up in the section individual finals for the third consecutive year. “Even though she beat me, I was happy that she went all the way.”

Tangtiphaiboontana said it was her biggest victory. The second-place finish at the U.S. Girls Championship may have been more prestigious, but it was still second place.

“I’ve never won a tournament where there was that big of a field,” she said. “It definitely ranks up there.”

She almost didn’t play. Tangtiphaiboontana, ranked No. 1 in her class with a 4.20 grade-point average, said she considered skipping the section individual championships because she had missed too much school.

Wilson Coach Jim Ferguson wasn’t surprised she played, or that she played well.

“Nothing she does surprises me,” Ferguson said. “She is at her best when the stakes are the highest and she seems to thrive under pressure situations. I’ve never seen her succumb to pressure.”

Her pinpoint accuracy and impeccable short game help make up for her slight lack of distance off the tee, but tenacity and inner drive are her strongest traits.

“People are surprised,” Ferguson said. “They see this sweet, demure, cute, quiet little thing, but uh-uh.... She is one of the most competitive people I know. She does not like to lose.”