Thai Teenager Continues to Turn Heads

Singapore: Ratchanon Chantananuwat is poised to break into the top-100 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) for the first time after his latest eye-catching performance against the professionals.

In finishing third at the Asian Tour’s inaugural The Singapore International, Ratchanon, better known as ‘TK’, produced another fearless display.

On an enthralling final day at Tanah Merah Country Club’s Tampines Course, the teenage prodigy, competing in a professional tournament outside his native Thailand for the first time, was in contention throughout.

Attempting to become the youngest winner on one of the world’s main Tours at the ripe old age of 14 years, three months, and four days, TK signed off with a 69 for a four-day aggregate of two-under 286.

He was one of just three players to better par over four gruelling days, finishing just two shots shy of joining the sudden-death play-off in which Korean 19-year-old Kim Joo-hyung prevailed against Thai Rattanon Wannasrichan.

Had he won, TK would have bettered the mark set by his countrywoman Atthaya Thitikul, who won the 2017 Ladies European Tour’s (LET) Thailand Open when she was 14 years, four months, 19 days. Atthaya went on to win the inaugural Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2018 and last year topped the standings in the LET's Order of Merit..

However, it was not quite meant to be for TK at Tanah Merah. After going out in five-under 31, he came back in three-over which included a double-bogey on 17.

“People will look at those scores online, see those dropped shots, and think I played badly. But I didn’t. I was trying so hard and playing well,” said the youngster, who made a 12-footer for birdie on 18.

TK began the week in 107th place in the WAGR, the second highest rated Thai player in the male rankings. On the back of his Tanah Merah heroics, he should now join the elite top-100.

Based on impressive performances on the Asian Tour and All Thailand Golf Tour last year, TK was invited to play in The Singapore International as well as this week’s SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club (January 20-23).

In the Asian Tour Phuket Series in November and December ‒ the two events that marked the restart of the Asian Tour following a 20-month hiatus caused by Covid-19 ‒ he tied for 15th on 12-under-par at the Blue Canyon Championship following a closing 65. A week later he finished joint 30th at the Laguna Phuket Championship.

On the All Thailand Golf Tour, Ratchanon, who attends Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok, has come close to winning on numerous occasions. He was second in the Singha Laguna Phuket Open, equal third in the Singha Thailand Masters and joint fifth in the Singha All Thailand Championship.