2023-09-04 00:40:00
PORTLAND, Ore. — 19-year-old Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen took everyone by surprise on Sunday with a final card of 63 and won the Portland Classic with a four-stroke lead over China’s Xiyu Lin. Wannasaen finished the tournament with an impressive 262 shots, or 26 under par.
Wannasaen therefore gets his hands on the $225,000 purse. Prior to this week’s tournament, his LPGA Tour earnings were under $5,000.
A rookie on the LPGA Tour in 2023, Wannasaen had missed the weekend rounds in each of his last nine tournaments. This year, she could not do better than a 51st position at the Honda LPGA in February.
Second heading into the final round, the result of a strong third-round 65, Wannasaen got back to work quickly on Sunday to settle comfortably into the lead. Wannasaen parried six shots over his first eight holes of the day to take control. Between the 3rd and 7th holes, Wannasaen scored four birdies and an eagle.
Wannasaen increased their lead to five shots on the back nine with back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th holes. The Thai added a birdie on the 17th hole and then sailed without too much trouble to the first victory of her career on the LPGA Tour.
Carlota Ciganda (66), Ruoning Yin (66) and Gina Kim (66) tied for third place.
After playing par on Saturday, Canada’s Brooke Henderson ended the tournament on the right foot with a score of 68. Thanks to seven birdies in the final round, against three bogeys, Henderson moved up a few rungs and finished the tournament in 34th position, at minus-11.
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