Trust title confirms Sihwan Kim in form of his life
Sihwan Kim triumphed in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge today on the Waterside Course at Siam Country Club to secure his second Asian Tour title in the space of six weeks and cement his position at the top of the Tour’s Order of Merit.
The American won the US$750,000 tournament – which was the Asian Tour’s first ever Modified Stableford scoring event and was jointly sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour (LET) – with a total of 49 points.
Rising Swedish star Maja Stark came home in second on 47 points; Budsabakorn Sukapan from Thailand was third with 42 points; and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai finished fourth on 41 points.
Sihwan Kim led after the first round with a 62 that gave him 22 points before unexpectedly crashing to a 76 on day two worth minus two points, but he started today’s round with an eight-point advantage thanks to an impressive 61 on Friday.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured with the winner’s trophy on Saturday April 16, after round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
However, he was made to work hard all day by the chasing pack and had his lead cut to two points ahead of playing partner Stark at the turn, and three from Phachara and Korean Joohyung Kim.
And a bogey on 13 saw him hold a two-point lead over Phachara with five holes to go, before a weather delay interrupted play at 1.17pm, which lasted one hour and twenty minutes.
But the break proved to be decisive and worked very much in the American’s favour as he made three birdies in a row immediately after the restart from 14 onwards giving him a seven point lead over Stark.
He appeared to be cruising to victory holding a seven-point lead playing the par-five 18 but, to the disbelief of everyone, he pushed his three-wood tee shot into the trees on the right. He found his ball but had to return to replay the tee shot. It meant Stark had an outside chance of catching the American if she made an eagle, worth five points, but in the end Sihwan Kim made a double, to card a 70 and seven points, while Stark got a birdie, for a 66 and 13 points.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Maja Stark of Sweden pictured on Saturday April 16, during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Sihwan Kim earned a cheque for US$135,000, while Stark received US$82,500.
“Obviously any win is a hard win. With Phachara just going strong in the beginning that put extra pressure on me but after the restart I think that cooled Phachara off and made me hot,” said Sihwan Kim.
“I just said on 18 all I need to do is make par. I was seven points ahead, all I needed to do was get it into play and I thought the wind was more into but I did kind of fan it right and I didn’t think it was going to go that far into the bushes and after that I said I just should have hit driver anyway.”
His rollercoaster day was made up of six birdies, two bogeys and one double.
He added: “This is the first time I had a 10 under and an 11 under in a tournament and my putting has just been phenomenal, that’s pretty much what got me through it, and those putts were not short either. The putts in 14 and 16 were pretty lengthy ones, I am really confident in my putting right now.”
At the beginning of last month, the 33 year old had not won a title since turning professional in 2011 but claimed the International Series Thailand and followed that up this week with another impressive victory that validated years of patience and persistence.
Prior to winning the International Series Thailand Sihwan Kim had recorded eight top-four results on the Asian Tour since 2018.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Budsabakron Supapan of Thailand pictured on Saturday April 16, during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
That included a fine run of form when the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year: he was joint fourth at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship, fourth in the SMBC Singapore Open, and second in the Royal’s Cup, also in Thailand.
On each of those attempts he was paired in the final group on Sunday, while when he won last month he was in the penultimate group, so today’s victory allowed him to overcome any concerns he could not win from the front.
For Stark it was yet another fine performance for a 22 year old who won three times in her rookie season last year.
“I didn’t see anyone’s tee shot on 18 so I was very surprised when he was driven back and it made me think ‘ooh it could happen’, but sadly I think I had a little bit too much adrenaline. It is not often I hit a hybrid 230m into the wind, so I think a bit too much adrenaline with that one. The chip was fine, but I should have left it past the hole,” said Stark.
“I’m happy with my game. My putting could have been a lot better, and my irons today weren’t very good, but I think I shot -6 and -20 is by far my best score on a four-round tournament. I’m happy with it. I feel like I have finally come back from winter golf and it being really cold and playing on even par is a fantastic score with those conditions, but I am very happy to get into the birdie and eagle mindset.”
Today’s round brought to an end a memorable and groundbreaking two weeks of mixed golf events jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and LET.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand pictured on Saturday April 16, during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Fifteen-year-old Ratchanon Chantananuwat from Thailand’s claimed the US$750,000 Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup last week becoming the youngest male player to win on one of the game’s major Tours.
The Asian Tour heads to the 41st GS Caltex Maekyung Open in two weeks time at Namseoul Country Club in Korea, from May 5–8 – one of the region’s most established and prestigious tournaments not played on the Asian Tour for the past two years because of the pandemic.
American Sihwan Kim got on the birdie bullet train once again today at the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge to take the third-round lead on 42 points at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course.
Overnight leader Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen, her compatriot Natipong Srithong and Maja Stark from Sweden are second with 34 points, while Budsabakorn Sukapan from Thailand is fifth with 33.
The innovative new US$750,000 tournament is being jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Ladies European Tour (LET).
Sihwan Kim showed just why he is currently ranked the Asian Tour’s number one player by carding an 11-under-par 61 – a remarkable round which was redemption for a very disappointing second round 76, that had followed his stunning 62 which saw him take the first-round lead.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand pictured on Friday April 15, during round three of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Sihwan Kim won the International Series Thailand at the beginning of March, which was surprisingly the first win of his 10-year professional career, and he has lost none of the momentum from that fine performance as he destroyed the course today with an astonishing 11 birdies, for 22 points.
“I must be bipolar or something!” said 33-year-old Sihwan Kim, who struggled yesterday carding six bogeys and two birdies.
“I don’t know, I just felt a little tired yesterday, but I got a really good sleep and came back out and tried to figure something out on the range. Got a feeling for something, still wasn’t very good off the tee. My putting has just been on fire, I just kept it in play and putted the lights out.
“I haven’t had a 10 under and 11 under in the same event before, that being said, it’s all about putting. I think I have been reading the lines a lot better than last week, last week I could not read them at all, but I think I am getting used to them.”
The lowest round ever in a tournament round for Sihwan Kim came after five birdies on the front nine and six on the back, including on the last four.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Natipong Srithong of Thailand pictured on Friday April 15, during round three of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The American’s victory last month was the culmination of a fine run of form on the Asian Tour which saw him play in the final pairing on Sunday on three occasions. He failed to secure top spot in those events – he was joint second in the Royal’s Cup, joint fourth in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship, and fourth in the SMBC Singapore Open – but he is hot favourite to prevail tomorrow with a commanding eight-point lead.
Wannasaen eagled the par-five 18th to register five points and leap up the leaderboard at the very end after a tough day on the course which saw her shoot 71.
She said: “Today my game plan wasn’t as good because my approach shots weren’t perfect like in yesterday’s round, but the eagle on the last hole was good because it was a long putt and I made it. Tomorrow I’m just going to focus on my shot and my routine, and I will try to do my best.”
Natipong fired a 69 to give himself a chance of winning his second Asian Tour title.
“Today my game was okay, but I had two three-putts two holes in a row, number 13 and 14. It was still okay, I hit a lot of greens and had a lot of chances for birdies and eagles,” he said.
“Tomorrow I will still follow my game plan, and if I can play like I did yesterday I think I will have a chance to win again. I hope so.”
Rising star Stark, who won three times last year in her rookie season including two LET titles, impressed again today finishing strongly by making birdie on 17 and 18.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Maja Stark of Sweden pictured on Friday April 15, during round three of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I didn’t have a great feeling at the beginning, I started off with a bogey. I felt like it was a little bit of a struggle today. I don’t remember much from my round. I feel the heat, it is hot. I do like it when it is hot, but this is to the extreme,” said the 22 year old, who shot 67.
“I think I’m just going to keep going. I think in the first round I was maybe too aggressive with my mindset. I was too aggressive, but not confident enough in my shots so that didn’t work. I think I have a good balance from the past two rounds.”
Former LPGA Tour player Budsabakorn will also be hoping to record a landmark victory for women’s golf tomorrow.
“Today my approach shot was very good, and I was putting well too. I was aiming down the line pretty good,” said the 24 year old, who returned a 66 thanks to an eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys, for 16 points.
“I was so excited about the eagle! I hit it close, and it was a short two-yard putt. That run of birdie-eagle-birdie gave me confidence, but I was also so excited with it too.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Budsabakorn Sukapan of Thailand pictured on Friday April 15, during round three of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Budsabakorn played on the LPGA Tour in 2016 and has eight wins to her name – including four on the Japan LPGA Step Up Tour in 2019 – but a win tomorrow will be far and away her biggest.
“When I heard about the tournaments, I was so excited and lucky to get a sponsors invite. I’m really enjoying myself and I was a little bit nervous because I had never played a Stableford format before.”
Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen nickname is “Proud” and that is something she and her many fans will have been today when she took control of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge, after the second round.
Chanettee holds the lead on 28 points – an outstanding tally helped by two eagles – at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course, in the Asian Tour’s first ever Modified Stableford points event.
The US$750,000 tournament is also being jointly sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.
The in-form 17-year-old from Chiang Mai, the winner of three domestic titles this year already, carded a six-under-par 66.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Natipong Srithong of Thailand pictured on Thursday April 14, during round two of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s Natipong Srithong also made two eagles, including on the 18th, to move into second on 25 points with Korean Kyongjun Moon.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Joohyung Kim from Korea is fourth on 24 points and Indonesian Rory Hie is fifth with 23 points.
Rising Swedish star Maja Stark, who made a remarkable 17 points on the back nine thanks to an eagle and six birdies, is in sixth place with Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant, on 22 points.
Overnight leader Sihwan Kim from the United States had a disappointing day after his opening 62 and shot 76 to finish on 20 points.
“Today, I played very well because I got two eagles and three birdies but on the ninth, my last hole, I got a bogey,” said Wannasaen, whose victories this year include two Trust Golf Mixed events.
“It is okay though because I got two eagles which was 10 points, so that was very good. My shots were perfect today.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Thursday April 14, during round two of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I didn’t change my game plan, I just focused on myself and on my shots. I want to keep improving at every tournament that I play. For the final two rounds I am going to do the same and just focus on my shots and my routine.”
Natipong is looking for his first win on the Asian Tour since claiming the 2015 Resorts World Manila Masters and put himself in position to do that today after shooting a 63.
“I had a lot of chances for birdies and eagles. I was lucky to make two eagles on par fives. On number eight I hit my second shot near the green and chipped in, and on the last hole I hit driver and three iron onto the green and made a long putt,” he said.
“I’ve never played this format before and I was worried about counting the points, but I think it’s good for my game and mentality to be aggressive and always go for the pin.”
Hie is showing the same kind of form which saw him lead after each of the first three days at the Gurugram Challenge last month on the Asian Development Tour. He eventually tied for fourth but had a very good excuse.
“I had Delhi belly, major headache and diarrhea on the last day,” said Hie.
“But I am kind of riding the momentum from the experience that I had there. Mentally I am more at peace with myself, taking it shot by shot, that seems to work pretty well for me. Staying in the present, deep breaths before each shot, just to make sure my mindset is in the right place. That’s my goal.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Rory Hie of Indonesia pictured on Thursday April 14, during round two of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Hie, who became the first player from his country to win on the Asian Tour when claimed the Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship in 2019 (which was played at the same venue as the Gurugram Challenge), said he is also enjoying playing the Stableford format.
He added: “I love this point system. I like it better than strokes because it gets you in a positive mindset, you are getting after the birdies; a birdie then a bogey is better than going par, par, it’s almost kind of like you are freewheeling it out there.”
Thailand’s star attraction Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat who claimed last week’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at the same venue missed the cut for the first time in eight starts on the Asian Tour.
“To be quite honest after I made that last putt on 18 on Sunday I felt really done, I am just tired. I tried my best, I wanted to be in the zone, I wanted world ranking points. No matter how hard I tried the putts would not go in. I just didn’t switch back into the zone I was in last week, or in every other week,” said the 15 year old.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand pictured on Thursday April 14, during round two of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I got SEA Games next, I won’t let anyone down for that, I know what I need to do. I will practice as hard as I can for that one as what this week has shown me is that I have a curse upon me where if I don’t practice, I can never play good golf, and it seems to me it’s having more of an effect on me than anyone who plays golf.”
The golfing phenom confirmed he will compete in the International Series England and British Amateur in June.
Current Asian Tour number one Sihwan Kim holed an incredible 40-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18th as darkness fell to take the clubhouse lead in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge today with an impressive total of 22 points.
The American, who won The International Series Thailand last month, shot a first round 10-under-par 62 at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course, in what is the Asian Tour’s first Modified Stableford scoring event.
The US$750,000 tournament is also being jointly-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.
The hooter to halt play for the day literally sounded as Sihwan Kim was making his closing putt, during a long day disrupted by a two-hour weather delay in the morning.
“It was one of those rounds where you just look at a putt and it goes in,” said Sihwan Kim, buzzing after also making birdie on 15, 16 and 17 before his grandstand finish.
“I didn’t really hit that well off the tee, I probably hit two fairways on the back nine today, but I was seven under, so I just don’t know.
“[On 18] I didn’t know what the line was, it was too dark to see. I just knew it was going a little right at the end and the horn didn’t really matter because I would have been happy to two putt in the dark, so I just hit it and it just started tracking and it went in.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Rory Hie of Indonesia pictured on Wednesday April 13, during round one of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Joohyung Kim from Korea sits in second place on 15 points along with Hung Chien-yao from Chinese-Taipei, Indian Viraj Madappa and Rory Hie from Indonesia.
Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat from Thailand who claimed last week’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at the same venue was paired with Sihwan Kim today and made seven points.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand playing with a bleeding nose on Wednesday April 13, during round one of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It was an okay start, but it wasn’t great to be honest. I was one over after five holes (I started on the back nine) but I had a good birdie on 15, a good birdie on 18, so that got things going,” said 19-year-old Joohyung Kim.
“I had a really good putt on one, really good putt on two. I just kept the momentum going. We had a long rain delay and after that I had a five footer for birdie and I got anxious on it but once I got that in I kind of got going. I don’t think I had a par on my back nine. A soft couple of bogeys on my back nine but I got them back.”
The two-time winner on the Asian Tour shot a six-under-par 66 with nine birdies and three bogeys; he made six birdies in a row from the 18th through to the fifth.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Wednesday April 13, during round one of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He said: That’s my longest streak of birdies in a tournament. I didn’t really realise I was on that roll and when I did I made bogey. It’s interesting playing stableford, it’s very, very different from playing normally. You have to make a lot of birdies in this format. I think instead of playing a different format you keep playing normally and focus on what I have been doing.”
Hung fired a 65 in last week’s first round, before finishing tied for 30th, and did the same today after shooting eight birdies and one bogey.
“Last week we played the same course, and I also did really well on the first day,” said Hung, a former winner on the Asian Development Tour.
“I didn’t play a practice round here Monday and Tuesday to just get in the grove of doing the same thing on every round. The points system is a bit different, I have never played this system before and it’s the first time we have played with the ladies and it’s actually pretty fun, so we see a different side of the game, they can hit really far. So, I had fun last week and this week, so I am happy with my round today. I am just playing as if it’s a normal round and I had a 65 so it’s great.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand pictured on Wednesday April 13, during round one of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, a six-time winner on the Asian Tour and 2019 Merit list champion, scored 12 points, indicating his gradual return to form.
A total of 39 players will complete their rounds tomorrow at 6.40am local time.
The Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge will use the Modified Stableford scoring format, which encourages aggressive play.
Unlike traditional scoring methods, where the aim is to have the lowest score, the objective in a Modified Stableford tournament is to have the highest score.
Modified Stableford awards points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole: albatross 8 points, eagle 5 points, birdie 2 points, par 0 points, bogey: -1 point, double bogey or more: -3 points.
The strategy in Modified Stableford formats can, in most instances, be summed up in three words: “Go for it.” This scoring format will reward risk-taking on the golf course.
Chanoknan Angurasaranee, or “April” as the Thai teenager’s also known, is surely a name to watch out for in the future after her performance in last week’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course, where she finished as the leading female player.
Playing in the penultimate group on Sunday with eventual winner Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, she certainly held her own by shooting a three-under-par 69 to end in a tie for sixth place on 15 under par, writes Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
Just shy of her 18th birthday later this month, she is already in her third year as a professional.
“On the first couple holes I was very excited and very tense, I got very tense on the first four holes. But when I birdied the fourth, I think it kind of freed me up a lot and I just tried to play my own game and just stay in my own zone. I’ve played with TK before and he’s a good, good kid. He makes sure that everyone in his group stays calm.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Chanoknan Angurasaranee of Thailand pictured on Saturday April 9, 2022 during round three of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Finishing tied-sixth against a very strong field of Asian Tour and Ladies European Tour players should do wonders for April’s confidence for the future, as she’s getting ready to embark on a season on the Epson Tour, the LPGA’s secondary tour. A top-10 finish on that Order of Merit would earn the young Thai a much sought-after LPGA card for the following season.
“I’m very impressed by myself [laughing]. I didn’t think that I was going to play this well. Next week I’m leaving to go to the states for the Epson Tour. These past four months, I’ve been trying to get my game into shape and trying to play under pressure. And this tournament really, really helps me to get to that mindset and in the zone like I need to be. I’m looking to play maybe 17 tournaments on the Epson Tour this year, starting on the 29th of April in Kansas and ending in October, so I’m trying to be in that top-10 to get my LPGA Tour card.”
Although the soon to be 18-year-old has been playing on the Trust Golf Mixed Tour in Thailand, the strength of the competition from the top Asian Tour players last week would have been quite a step up.
She said: “It’s a whole other level, you know. The way they play, their short games and their putting was over the top. I just enjoyed every second of playing with the men. You get to see just really, really nice, like really cool shots. I’m just trying to absorb everything. It was great, just really good to play in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Chanoknan Angurasaranee of Thailand cools down with a ice pack on her head on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Having turned professional at a young age after taking up golf at age 11, the Thai would have been quite used to being the youngest in the group at tournaments; this was not the case on Sunday, as Ratchanon is almost three years her junior.
“It felt weird [laughing]. But it was very, very fun to watch TK play, he’s just an amazing golfer. It was incredible how he handled the pressure to win. On the first hole, I think he told the camera man: ‘I’ll definitely hold this trophy, just wait for me for five hours’. And I was like, this kid’s got that mentality, you know? And he really played great golf, just great golf.”
In addition to the Trust Golf Mixed Tour, Chanoknan has also been playing on the Thailand LPGA Tour and is happy with her progression so far.
She added: “I’ve been playing really well. Just sort of increasingly better, improving every tournament and just like this week, finishing tied sixth. I started from like mid 20s and just climbing up the leaderboard and finding myself in the top-10, top-five nowadays.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Chanoknan Angurasaranee of Thailand pictured on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
If there is one player who could steal the thunder of the teenagers on the Asian Tour this week at the US$750,000 Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge, then look no further than in-form American Paul Peterson.
The talented lefthander, with the purest of golf swings, claimed joint third place last Sunday in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup – sensationally won by 15-year-old Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat – for yet another fine finish in 2022: he was equal fifth in the International Series Thailand last month, and The Singapore International in January, and sits in sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“We are on the precipice of something really good,” said the 33-year-old from Arizona, who also has not missed the cut on the Asian Tour since the Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Cup in May of 2019.
“I have been working on some things on my swing to minimize some of the curve that happens for me, so little bit technical stuff. Had some good feelings with the putter last week. But I felt like I game planned it and controlled it well. Hit some good putts out there on the back nine, and you want to give yourself a good chance on the back nine on Sunday. I didn’t feel like I hit a bad putt.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- L-R- Paul Peterson of the USA looks at his tee shot on the 2nd tee with Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He was paired with Thailand’s Ratchanon in the penultimate group on Sunday, at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course, and just as the teenage amateur was starting to pull away the American gave him a fright when he holed his bunker shot on 16 for a birdie to close the gap to two.
Said Peterson: “The hole out on 16 was awesome as I have really been working hard on my short game so that’s great to show itself under pressure.”
He finished three strokes behind Ratchanon, and one behind second place Joohyung Kim from Korea after carding a four-under-par 68 to finish 17 under. Both Ratchanon and 19-year-old Kim compete this week.
“I called it in my interview before, I thought 20 would win and I figured someone would come out firing, but I can’t be disappointed,” said Peterson, who has won once before on the Asian Tour in the 2018 Myanmar Open, and also claimed the 2016 Czech Masters on the European Tour.
“I said 20, I thought I would get to 18. All in all, I was happy with the way I played, I didn’t make many mistakes. I feel like the game has been trending in the right direction and you know, the consistency has been up. So that’s what I’m happy about.”
Like last week, this week’s event, which tees-off tomorrow, is also being jointly sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour and is being played on the Waterside Course.
Said Peterson: “I did play in a mixed event in Northern Ireland where it was kind of two events in one. But the girls in the first couple days here last week were great. Really nice ladies and fun to watch them play.”
The Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge will use the Modified Stableford scoring format, which encourages aggressive play.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Paul Peterson of the USA pictured on Friday April 8, 2022 during round two of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Unlike traditional scoring methods, where the aim is to have the lowest score, the objective in a Modified Stableford tournament is to have the highest score.
Modified Stableford awards points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole: albatross 8 points, eagle 5 points, birdie 2 points, par 0 points, bogey: -1 point, double bogey or more: -3 points.
The strategy in Modified Stableford formats can, in most instances, be summed up in three words: “Go for it.” This scoring format will reward risk-taking on the golf course.
For a player who admitted he had no confidence in his game at the start of last week, things didn’t turn out too shabbily for Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat.
Instead of lamenting a lack of practice due to the pressures of school work, the 15-year-old Thai simply relied on his prodigious talent … and ended the week at Siam Country Club by etching his name into golf’s history books, writes Spencer Robinson, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
In winning the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup, the Shrewsbury International School Bangkok student became the youngest male player to win on one of the game’s major Tours. Furthermore, he’s just the fifth amateur to win on the Asian Tour and the first since 2009.
At the ripe old age of 15 years and 37 days old, it says much about TK’s standing that his triumph did not really register as a huge shock among those who have witnessed at first hand his Asian Tour appearances over the past six months.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand, pictured on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
During that period he’d made six cuts out of six, mounting legitimate title challenges at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship (tied 15th), International Series Thailand (tied 11th) and The Singapore International (third).
All the time, TK said he believed he could win on the Asian Tour. The few naysayers who took offence and dared to scoff at the arrogance of such a suggestion will now be eating a rather large portion of humble pie.
Not among their number are seasoned pros and Asian Tour members who have played alongside him. At Siam Country Club, Joohyung Kim, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, and American left-hander Paul Peterson, a winner on the DP World Tour, both had front row seats.
“TK deserves this. There is no stopping him,” acknowledged Korea’s Kim, at 19 a veritable veteran compared to TK.
After being paired with TK for the final round at the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Ladies European Tour, 33-year-old Peterson was equally effusive in his praise of the teenager.
“I got my ass kicked by a kid! But it was fun out there – fun to watch him. He plays with so much maturity. You could see him getting the adrenalin going. He handled himself really well,” said Peterson, now in 10th year as a pro and with a host of top-five Asian Tour finishes to his name, including victory in the 2018 Myanmar Open.
TK said his previous brushes with success helped him close the deal at the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup, but confessed that nagging self-doubts and insufficient preparation played out in his mind before the first shot was struck in anger.
“I actually had no confidence coming into this week. I wasn’t striking the ball well. But now that I’ve won an Asian Tour event my confidence will grow,” he said.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand, pictured on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
So, too, will his standing in the world game.
With his victory, Ratchanon Chantananuwat is set to soar to 258th in the Official World Golf Ranking that is compiled based on performances in professional events around the world.
He’s also projected to break into the top-20 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for the first time, leapfrogging China’s Ding Wenyi (20) and Jin Bo (24) and moving into second spot among Asians, behind only Japan’s Keita Nakajima, the number one in the standings. No wonder TK will be an overwhelming favourite for the individual golfing gold medal at the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, to be held in Hanoi next month.
As Ratchanon Chantananuwat was pulling off his heroics in Pattaya, Nakajima was making his debut in the Masters Tournament, reward for his win in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship late last year.
While most of the golfing world’s attention may have been focused on the 86th edition of the Masters, TK’s triumph on Thai soil did not go unnoticed at Augusta National.
Sir Nick Faldo has been monitoring the Thai’s spectacular rise since watching him win the 2020 Faldo Series Hua Hin title and participate in the Major Champions Invitational, an event created by the six-time Major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member ‘to provide opportunities to young people through golf and help identify the next generation of champions’.
“Congratulations to TK,” said Sir Nick, who was on commentating duties at The Masters. “Throughout the week at Augusta National, I’ve been following TK’s progress in Thailand. He’s an outstanding talent and perhaps it won’t be too long before we see him here at Augusta in The Masters.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand, pictured on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Which inevitably leads to questions about TK’s future plans.
Having had to pass up the US$135,000 first prize cheque at Siam Country Club, the knee-jerk reaction would be for TK to relinquish his amateur status and join the ranks of the professionals.
Despite the obvious temptations to cash in on his success while the going’s good, TK himself 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.”
That’s also the advice he’s been given by numerous Asian Tour players he’s discussed the issue with. Remaining amateur for a while yet is the right course of action and will not hurt or hinder his prospects of a glittering professional career when he and his family deem the time to be right, is the loud message he’s received.
“It seems like he’s got a really good family to help him. It seems they just let him be the way he is. If that can continue, the sky’s the limit for him,” predicted Peterson.
Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Thailand’s teenage golf sensation, finally achieved the impossible today when he claimed the US$750,000 Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup – becoming the youngest male player to win on one of the game’s major Tours.
The 15-year-old amateur –– fired a seven-under-par 65 to finish on 20 under and beat Korean Joohyung Kim by two shots at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course.
Kim, aged 19, returned a 64 while American lefthander Paul Peterson and Bio Kim from Korea ended third one stroke behind after firing 68 and 69 respectively.
Ratchanon at 15 years old and 37 days improved upon the previous best youngest winner mark set by Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, who was 15 years and eight months when won the Japan Tour’s 2007 Munsingwear Open KSB Cup.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand, pictured on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
And on the Asian Tour Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil had been the previous youngest champion, having claimed the 2005 Double A International Open when he was 17 years and five days old.
In one of the most captivating and historic finishes to an Asian Tour event, a whole host of players were in contention on the back nine.
But Ratchanon, playing in the penultimate group, made the decisive move when he birdied 14 and 15, for a three-shot lead over the chasing pack.
His cause was also helped when Kim, playing two groups ahead, found water on 17 and made bogey.
That appeared to hand victory to Ratchanon but Kim sensationally holed a 15 footer for eagle on the par-five 18th to get to 18 under and give the young Thai golfer a one-shot lead playing the last.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Joohyung Kim of Korea pictured on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Once again showing maturity beyond his years, Ratchanon split the fairway with his drive, laid up safely short and holed a birdie putt from 12 feet.
“I am very excited, but I felt a lot of pressure,” said Ratchanon.
“I got to be honest, I got pretty lucky, I had hit two or three terrible drives. I saw that [Kim eagled 10] and was not surprised, he pulls off that stuff all the time. It put pressure on me but I tried not to look at it too much. I definitely have a lot of people to thank.”
The rising star, who studies at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok, has no plans to turn professional and will compete in the upcoming SEA Games in Vietnam.
He said: “This has been my plan all along. I enjoy going to college and learning everything. I have talked to a lot of players, and they have all said go to college.”
He also became the fifth amateur to win on the Asian Tour and first since 2009.
Kim, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, had the consolation of receiving the US$135,000 winners’ cheque.
“Made a careless mistake on 17 but recovered well with the eagle but let’s face it, TK deserves this. There is no stopping him. But this week has given me a lot of confidence for the season ahead,” said Kim.
Four-time Asian Tour winner John Catlin from the United States returned a 67 to finish in outright fifth, while in a tie for sixth was 17-year-old Chanoknan Angurasaranee from Thailand.
The US$750,000 tournament marked the first time the Asian Tour have staged a mixed event, as it is being jointly sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour (LET).
PATTAYA-THAILAND- L-R- Paul Peterson of the USA looks at his tee shot on the 2nd tee with Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand on Sunday April 10, 2022 during round four of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Competitors move to the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge next week, to be played at the same venue and boasts the same prizemoney.
The inaugural tournament will use the Modified Stableford scoring format.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Bio Kim from Korea both shot four-under-par 68s to take the third-round lead on 14 under in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup today.
They lead by a stroke from Thailand’s rising female star Jaravee Boonchant (66) and her amateur compatriot Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat (70) plus American lefthander Paul Peterson (68).
The US$750,000 tournament marks the first time the Asian Tour have staged a mixed event, as it is being jointly sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour (LET).
The stacked leaderboard suggests a thrilling final day tomorrow which will also be a rematch between Phachara and Bio, who played together in the final pairing of the Laguna Phuket Championship in December which the former won.
“I played very well today,” said 22-year-old Phachara, whose win in Phuket was his first victory on the Asian Tour.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Bio Kim of the USA pictured on Saturday April 9, 2022 during round three of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“However, I should have done better. I played to my plan. The weather and course conditions did not affect me much because I have planned what to do. In the final round, I will create more opportunities for myself to shoot lower. I will focus more on putting, to make it better. I will just focus on my game and not being the champion.”
The Thai star, currently in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, will also be seeking redemption on Sunday as he had a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the International Series Thailand last month but finished runner-up to American Sihwan Kim.
Bio Kim is looking to secure his first title on the Asian Tour. He led the Phuket event by one shot from Phachara before tying for second place.
“It’s going to be a great final round. Phachara is a bomber!” said Bio Kim, who has finished in the top-10 in six of his last seven starts on the Asian Tour.
“I am not going to put pressure on myself, there are so many variables. A win on the Asian Tour would mean so much to me. I have had a great run of results recently so I am not far away.”
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Jaravee Boonchant of Thailand pictured on Saturday April 9, 2022 during round three of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Ratchanon, aged 15, started the day in a share of the lead with Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen, who carded a 76 and slipped back to seven under.
Said the Thai youngster: “I definitely felt some pressure today, particularly over some putts. But I am learning all the time. I didn’t play very well and I am not making the putts. But I am now in the penultimate group tomorrow, so that’s an advantage.”
Jaravee, aged 22, shot the lowest round of the day to move into contention.
“The golf course is in great condition. It looks very pretty, and the greens are very nice, the ball is rolling pretty well. I love it and I like how they set it up,” she said.
“I think I hit my driver better today, so I put myself in good positions on the greens and holed a few today too. Most of the birdie putts were quite short because I was in a good position. I am trying not to focus on the outcome, I’m trying to stick to the plan and play how I have been playing this week so far.”
She graduated from Duke University in June last year, turned professional immediately after and claimed her first professional title at Thailand LPGA Masters at the end of last year.
Another of Thailand’s exciting young lady golfers, 17-year-old Chanoknan Angurasaranee carded a 67 and is one shot back in solo sixth.
PATTAYA-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand, pictured on Saturday April 9, 2022 during round three of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Four-time Asian Tour winner John Catlin from the United States made the most of moving day by firing a 66 and is just three behind the leaders, in joint seventh.
Last season’s Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Joohyung Kim from Korea carded a 69 and is 10 under, while current number one Sihwan Kim return a 71 and is a shot further behind.
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