The next big thing? 14-year-old finishes third in tour event
1/17/2022 | by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com
A Thai teen sensation briefly holds the final round lead before finishing two back at the Singapore International
Joohyung Kim, 19, won the Singapore Invitational in a playoff over Rattanon Wannasrichan on Sunday, but it was another teen who captured the hearts of the gallery at Tanah Merah Country Club.
Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 14, briefly held the final round lead after playing his first nine holes at 5-under par, only to come home in 3-over, which included a double-bogey on No. 17, for a closing 69 and a third-place finish, missing the playoff by just two strokes.
The young Thai was attempting to become the youngest player, male or female, to win a world-ranked professional event, a distinction that belongs to fellow countrywoman Attahaya Thitikul, who was 14 years, four months and 19 days old when she won the 2017 Ladies European Thailand Open.
“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,” Ratchanon told the South China Morning Post.
Chantananuwat was playing in his first professional event overseas but has had success on the All Thailand Golf Tour, finishing second in the Singha Laguna Phuket Open, and in ties for third and fifth at the Singha Thailand Masters and Singha All Thailand Championship respectively.
He credits his golfing idol, Thongchai Jaidee, for much of his early success.
"The advice I’ve taken from most of them is to have fun out there," Chantananuwat told the South China Morning Post. "He’s not just a great player who has won multiple times on the Asian Tour, he’s also a really nice guy and he definitely tries to share what he has with me, and I think I’m really lucky with that and it’s really very valuable.”
Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 14, briefly held the final round lead after playing his first nine holes at 5-under par, only to come home in 3-over, which included a double-bogey on No. 17, for a closing 69 and a third-place finish, missing the playoff by just two strokes.
“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,” Ratchanon told the South China Morning Post.
Chantananuwat was playing in his first professional event overseas but has had success on the All Thailand Golf Tour, finishing second in the Singha Laguna Phuket Open, and in ties for third and fifth at the Singha Thailand Masters and Singha All Thailand Championship respectively.
He credits his golfing idol, Thongchai Jaidee, for much of his early success.
"The advice I’ve taken from most of them is to have fun out there," Chantananuwat told the South China Morning Post. "He’s not just a great player who has won multiple times on the Asian Tour, he’s also a really nice guy and he definitely tries to share what he has with me, and I think I’m really lucky with that and it’s really very valuable.”
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s
Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s originalLoading latest news...