On Championship Sunday in Toledo, Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen clinched her second LPGA Tour victory in two years, winning the Dana Open by a single stroke over fellow sophomore Haeran Ryu.
Firing a final round 67, Wannasaen’s triumph at Highland Meadows Golf Club comes just before her title defence at the Portland Classic and follows her career-best major finish at the Amundi Evian Championship.
With rounds consistently in the 60s, Wannasaen set new career-low 36- and 54-hole scores, finishing 20-under par with a total of 264.
Reflecting on her journey, Wannasaen shared, “Last year I won in Portland, and that, like, cannot imagine that I going to win in Portland because I miss cut like nine events and then Monday qualify and then won in Portland.
But this year, I’m start this year I’m looking for second trophy… I think the feeling is very different because Portland I feel like freedom; right now I’m feel like I’m going to looking for third trophy. Yeah, I think it’s coming.”
Starting the final round with a three-stroke lead over Ryu, Wannasaen maintained her dominance, extending her lead to five strokes after back-to-back birdies on holes 7 and 8.
However, a couple of bogeys on the back nine allowed Ryu to close the gap. Birdies from Ryu on holes 10, 12, 14, and 15 left them tied heading to the 16th hole.
A critical mistake from Ryu on the 16th hole gave Wannasaen a slight edge. Both players birdied the 17th, keeping Wannasaen in the lead as they approached the final hole.
Off the tee, Ryu hit the fairway, while Wannasaen found the right fairway bunker. Both players missed left on their approaches, with Ryu in a bunker and Wannasaen short.
From the rough, Wannasaen dazzled with her short game, placing her shot within 15 feet. Ryu responded with a stellar bunker shot to two feet, guaranteeing her birdie.
Knowing she needed to make her putt, Wannasaen stepped up under immense pressure.
“Today I’m really nervous, and get stress because last year I play not good on this tournament… And Haeran, I play with her.
She play really well for today. On the last putt on the last hole my hand is shaking so hard. I just like ‘get in, get in. I want birdie, not par…’”
Wannasaen remarked, recalling her missed cut at the 2023 Dana Open. “I made it… It’s really exciting because like on the last putt in my brain it’s like nothing, just like being ‘get in, get in; just birdie. I don’t want to par; just birdie.’
After I putt in the fan is like scream, and after that notice, oh, my God, a lot of my fans supporting me on this week.”
With this victory, Wannasaen has now captured two of the LPGA Tour’s oldest non-major tournaments.
At 20 years, 3 months, and 5 days old, she is the youngest Tour winner this season and the 14th different winner in 2024.
Her earnings surpass the $1 million mark, making her the third Thai player to win this year and the seventh from Thailand to secure at least two Tour victories.
Ryu’s second-place finish is her best of the season, surpassing her third-place at the JM Eagle LA Championship and marking her seventh top-10 result in 2024, the most of any winless LPGA player this year.
Tied for third were 2023 Dana Open champion Linn Grant and Ssu-Chia Cheng. Xiyu Lin and Mary Liu shared fifth place, while six players, including Toledo native Stacy Lewis, finished tied for seventh.
Lewis received a standing ovation from the local crowd after a birdie on the final hole.
