London, England: Thai teenager Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat is now a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) top-10 player.
After upstaging the professionals to win the Asian Tour’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup, the Bangkok-based schoolboy has jumped 20 places to a high of seventh in the WAGR.
With his victory at Siam Country Club, TK set a record for the youngest male winner of a professional tournament on a major Tour at the age of just 15 years and 37 days, overtaking Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa who was 15 years and eight months when he won the 2007 Munsingwear Open KSB Cup.
TK fired rounds of 63, 70, 70 and 65 at Siam Country Club to post a 20-under 268 and win by two shots – a triumph that saw him soar to 258th in the Official World Golf Ranking that is compiled based on performances in professional events around the world.
Over the past six months, TK has made six cuts out of six on the Asian Tour, mounting legitimate title challenges at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship (tied 15th), International Series Thailand (tied 11th) and The Singapore International (third).
Despite the obvious temptations to cash in on his success while the going’s good, TK has consistently declared his intention to remain on his current path and continue his studies.
“Nothing’s going to change,” he insisted in the immediate wake of his Asian Tour breakthrough. “I’m going to stay in school, go to college, practice more. That’s been my plan all along.”
In the women’s WAGR, Korean Park Ye-ji has rejoined the top 100 by winning The 1st Korea Golf Association President Cup Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.
She defeated compatriot Lee Jeong-hyun in a play-off after they finished the 54 holes even on 205 totals. Park, winner of the 2020 Song Am Cup, reaches a high of 75th with a 30-ranking move. Lee is two places better off in 55th.
Also on the rise is Ashley Lau who advances four positions to 31st following her third win of the year.
The Malaysian, who attends the University of Michigan, added the Indiana Invitational to victories in the Florida Gators Invitational and Tulane Classic. Those were close affairs compared to her Indiana triumph.
Lau won by 11 shots after shooting 67, 73 and 68 around the Pfau Course at Indiana University in Bloomington, Michigan.
