Chanettee Wannasaen Takes Commanding Lead with Stellar Performance in Queen City

Chanettee Wannasaen, a 21-year-old Thai golfer, put her indomitable talent on full display by posting a remarkable 9-under par 63 at TPC River’s Bend. Her incredible play earned her a two-stroke advantage in the event she was still competing in. Wannasaen could be having a religiously great comeback with this effort. She recently swung her way out of a swing funk that had been plaguing her game.

On her astounding opening 18 holes, Wannasaen made seven birdies, showcasing her accuracy and focus from tee to green. Notably, she holed out a stunning 9-iron shot for eagle on the par-4 10th hole, further solidifying her position at the top of the leaderboard. The rainy, muddy conditions of TPC River’s Bend were not enough to stop her. In truth, they ignited her ball-hogging playstyle and took her performance to the next level.

This follows Wannasaen’s first LPGA Tour victories earlier this season when she won the 2023 Portland Classic in August and the 2024 Dana Open in September. Her recent showing was a sign she’s getting back to her right form, as she put it, “I just kind of got that ball rolling today.” That sense of regained daily cadence has been restorative to her competitive spirit as she races in one the world’s great, authentic sporting events.

Nelly Korda, another prominent golfer in the tournament, acknowledged the favorable playing conditions, saying, “Overall, just kind of everything was flowing and the weather was great. There was really no wind. So with kind of the saturated conditions, a little softer, you could be a little bit more aggressive.” Korda’s remarks show the player perspective as usual when it comes to players trying to make their way around the tricky track.

Wannasaen wants to stay ahead in the days to come. She remains optimistic and focused on her game. With two LPGA Tour victories on her résumé, Perry is hungry for a third. Fellow competitors like Charley Hull expressed their aspirations for low scores in the coming rounds, stating, “Hopefully, we can go low over the next few days.”