Southport, England: Thai teenager Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat’s hopes of glory at the 128th Amateur Championship were cut short in the semi-final.

In what proved to be a one-sided contest at Hillside, 16-year-old Ratchanon suffered an 8&6 loss to Switzerland’s Ronan Kleu.

Kleu was impressive from tee to green in the last-four tie, recording five birdies and just a single dropped shot. The Thai, 29th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), struggled to find his best form with a double-bogey at the second and four further bogeys as Kleu achieved a notable upset.

In the morning’s quarter-final matches, Ratchanon and Max Schliesing played a fantastic tie. Ranked just inside the top-700 in the word standings, the Swiss was six-under-par for his round but still lost out by two holes.

Ratchanon was two-up after nine holes thanks to five birdies and just two dropped shots. His 22-year-old opponent fought all the way and squared the match after birdies at the 14th and 15th. Ratchanon simply refused to give in and birdied the last three holes in a seven-under-par round.

Reflecting on his success over Ratchanon, Kleu said: “This morning he had a really awesome showing. Shout out to him. I think he shot seven-under and I was well aware of that.

“But then this afternoon, I think I just had the momentum go into my favour a couple of times at the beginning. He’s a great player, It was fun playing against him.”

In Saturday’s 36-hole final, Kleu will face 22-year-old South African Christo Lamprecht.

Lamprecht won the last three holes – helped by an eagle at the 17th – for a dramatic one-hole semi-final success against English teenager Frank Kennedy.

The highest-ranked player in the field, at sixth on the WAGR, Lamprecht will now aim to become the third South African to win The Amateur in the last six years.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Kleu is setting his sights on becoming the first Swiss player to win The Amateur. Twenty years ago at Royal Troon, Switzerland’s Raphael De Souza advanced to the Final before losing to Gary Wolstenholme of England.

Ranked 376th in the world, Kleu didn’t lose a single hole in his quarter and semi-final ties as he continued the form which saw him finish tied second in stroke play qualifying.

He and Lamprecht will now play for one of the most prestigious trophies in the amateur game with the winner also securing exemptions into The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool next month, the US Open, and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament in 2024.

Lamprecht and Kennedy, 17, had a tight tussle which the South African edged. They shared five birdies in the opening five holes before Lamprecht’s bogey at the sixth gave Lytham Trophy winner Kennedy a one-hole advantage.

The tall South African, aiming to emulate compatriot Aldrich Potgieter after his win at Royal Lytham & St Annes last year, squared the match twice but Kennedy’s birdies at the 14th and 15th looked to be decisive. However, Kennedy’s bogey at the 16th and a stunning eagle by Lamprecht at the par-five 17th – his 15 foot putt leading to an emotional fist-pump – squared the tie. A solid par at the last after Kennedy found the greenside bunker sealed a comeback triumph.

The meeting between Kennedy and Irishman Alex Maguire was also a close contest. Kennedy was never behind but couldn’t shake off his opponent until late in the back nine.

Maguire’s birdie two at the short 10th took him only one behind, before the par-five 11th proved to be key. Kennedy lost a ball to the left in the rough with his approach but still rescued a par, while Maguire made bogey. After the Englishman drove the par-four 14th with the tee pushed up, Kennedy closed out a 3&2 triumph.

Lamprecht’s powerful driving proved the difference against Richard Teder. With the Estonian more tactical with his play, the South African took out driver at every opportunity. He hooked his ball out of bounds at the second to fall one down but produced four birdies in the next six holes to turn the match around. Teder, 18, has enjoyed a great week but his bogey at the par-three 10th and two further birdies from Lamprecht at the 12th and 13th closed out a 6&5 win.

Kleu was also a big winner, coming through his last-eight match against Sweden’s Tobias Jonsson by 5&4. Two birdies helped the Swiss national team player to two-up at the turn and Jonsson’s four bogeys in a row from the 10th saw his run come to an end.