On Sunday at the Championship in Toledo, Thailand’s Chanetti Vannassen earned his second LPGA Tour victory in as many years on tour, winning the Dana Open by one stroke over fellow LPGA Tour sophomore Haren Ryu. Shooting his fourth round in the 60s with a final-day 67, this second victory comes two weeks before he defends his title at the Portland Classic and a week after Thai golfer Amundi posted his best major championship finish at the Evian Championship. . Confident at the top of his game, Vannassen displayed some of his best golf at Highland Meadows Golf Club, setting new career lows in 36- and 54-hole scores before finishing at 20-under par with a 264.
„Last year I won in Portland and I couldn’t imagine I would win in Portland because I missed nine events and then I qualified on Monday and won in Portland,” said Vannassen, who took his opening win. In the midst of a tough rookie season, he said, „But this year, I’m starting this year, I’m looking for a second trophy…I think the feeling is very different because Portland I feel free; now I feel like I’m looking for a third trophy. Yeah, I think it’s coming.”
Heading into the final round, Vannassen led Ryu by three strokes and held a comfortable lead for most of the day, leading by five strokes after back-to-back birdies on 7 and 8. But the scores were close. After the turn. Ryu went on a run with birdies on 10, 12, 14 and 15 before two bogeys on 10 and 13 closed the gap, even with a nice birdie on 12 in between. She would eventually lose her second title. With two par fives to go, both players birdied 17 to go to 18, with Vansen still in the lead.
Off the tee, Ryu hit the fairway while Vannassen found the perfect fairway bunker. On their approach, the two went left with Ryu finding the bunker this time and Vannassen missing the bunkers. The rugged Wannasaen wowed the crowd with his fantastic short game, hitting it to within 15 feet, but Ryu made a brilliant bunker shot to two feet for a guaranteed birdie. First, Vannassen knew he had to sink it to ensure his victory.
„I’m very nervous and stressed today because I didn’t play well in this tournament last year. Haren, I’m playing with her. She’s playing well today. My hand is shaking really hard on the last putt of the last hole. I’m like 'get in, get in.’ I want birdie, no par…'” said Vannesen, who missed the cut at the 2023 Dana Open. „I made it … it’s exciting because it’s nothing like the last thing I put in my brain was, 'Get in; Just a bird. I don’t want to associate; Just a bird.’ It’s like screaming after I put the fan on, and after that announcement, oh my god, so many of my fans are supporting me this week.
With her victory at the Dana Open, Vannassen has now won two non-major tournaments on the LPGA Tour. She is the youngest player to win on Tour this season (20 years, 3 months, 5 days) and the 14th different winner of the year. She is the third Thai player to surpass $1 million in career earnings this year and the seventh player from Thailand to win at least two times on Tour.
Ryu’s runner-up finish was his season-high, third at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by BlastPro and his seventh top-10 finish of 2024, the most by any LPGA Tour player. Two players are tied for third, including 2023 Dana Open champion Lynn Grant and Szu-xia Cheng. Xiyu Lin and Mary Liu of the Republic of China finished T5, while six others had T7 results, with Stacey Lewis of Toledo receiving a standing ovation from the local crowd thanks to a birdie on the final hole.
„Całkowity introwertyk. Nieprzejednany specjalista od sieci. Przyjazny fanatyk bekonu. Student ekstremalnych. Miłośnik piwa. Organizator.”