Teenage Chanettee stuns male stars at golf’s Thailand Mixed
Schoolgirl Chanettee Wannasaen upstaged the male and female stars of Thai golf to emerge as halfway leader in the Bt3-million Thailand Mixed presented by Trust Golf at Hua Hin’s Black Mountain on Friday.
The 16-year-old from Chiang Mai produced nine birdies against two bogeys for her second straight 65 to finish the second round on 14-under-par 130, a shot ahead of first-round leader Pattaraporn Mounchoo.
“I hit all fairways today and made all the putts. It feels great,” said Chanettee, who is in just her second pro tournament after making her debut at the 2020 Thai LPGA Masters, where she came fourth.
Chanettee said she was feeling no pressure despite her surprise lead over a field full of star players, including two-time Asian Tour champion Prom Meesawat, 2020 All Thailand Golf Tour No 1 Pavit Tangkamolprasert and two-time Ladies European Tour winner Atthaya Thitikul. Remaining calm and sticking to the game plan is her priority heading into Saturday’s action.
“I don’t want to get too excited or carried away as there are still two days to go. Man or woman, you still have to putt well on this course if you want to get good scores,” said the teenager, who trains alone with occasional tips from ATGT player Udorn Duangdecha, who also hails from Chiang Mai.
Pattaraporn Mounchoo.
Overnight leader Pattaraporn, who dazzled the stars with a brilliant 12-under 60 on Thursday, endured a difficult back nine on Friday and fell one behind Chanettee. Pattaraporn was leading on 17-under after 15 holes but bogeyed the 16th before splashing into the lake on 17 and suffering a triple bogey. She managed to save par on the finishing hole to remain at 13-under.
“I didn’t drive as well as I did on the first day which made it difficult for me to play my second shots. I’ll try to forget this round and hope for a better one on Saturday,” said Pattaraporn, who will play in the leading group for the first time.
The best male player was Chon Buri-based Settee Prakongvech, winner of the Singha All Thailand Memorial in 2019, who hit back-to-back 66s for third place on 12-under 132.
Fourth position was snatched by three female players – Thai LPGA No 1 Atthaya (2020) and Arpichaya Yubol (2018) and Onkanok Soisuwan – all on 11-under 133.
“You need to have good putts to create chances on this course,” said Atthaya. ”The pin positions are not easy.”
Second-best male player was Suteepat Prateeptienchai, shooting a 69 to land four strokes off the lead on 10-under 134.
Following two shots behind were home favourite Prom and top qualifier Amarin Kraivixien, tied in eighth along with three women – Chanokpisut Charoenpattanasatit, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras and Kultida Pramphun.
A total of 68 players made the cut at even-par 144.
The four-day event is competed in a stroke-play format over 72 holes with the full 7,285-yard for the men cut to 6,277 yards for the women.
