Chanettee Wannasaen is yet to be an easily recognizable name among LPGA fans. But that might change very soon. The Thai teenager didn’t take much time to establish her foothold in her native country. With already one title under her belt, her run at the LPGA Tour looks to be the same.

Wannasaen became a star in her home country even before turning 18. She was following in the footsteps of Ariya Jutanugarn, Patty Tavatanakit, and Atthaya Thitikul. Similar to her idols, Wannasaen started off her sprint on the LPGA Thailand. 

She won twice, first at the 2022 Singha Pattaya Ladies Open and the 2022 SAT-NSDF 5th Thai LPGA Championship. Not content with staying bound to the TLPGA, she took the trip to Europe. Teeing off at the Trust Golf Links Series at Ramside Hall Golf Club, Wannasaen bested her compatriot, Arpichaya Yubol, to win her first silverware at the LET Access Series, a developmental tour for the Ladies European Tour. 

Big things were in the offing, without a doubt. Within a year, Chanettee Wannasaen was on the state side. Her eye was set on the LPGA Tour. After breaking through the LPGA Q-series, she earned her full-time LPGA Tour card in 2023. So far, she has played 21 events, making cuts in 13 of them. Her best performance in a major came at the recently concluded Amundi Evian Championship, where she tied for 17th. 

At the Stateside, Wannasaen has always enjoyed the support of Thai expatriates. They cheered for her at last year’s Portland Classic, where she won her first LPGA silverware, even though she was a relatively unknown player. They were rooting for her at the 2024 Dana Open as well, where she held her career-first 36-hole lead. 

A lot of credit also goes to her young caddie, Porani Chutichai, who herself was a professional golfer. Porani Chutichai also serves as her manager and mentor. They are quite close to each other, and the camaraderie certainly extends beyond the greens. On social media, the LPGA pro often posts pictures with her caddie, having breakfast together, or just spending some time out. Till now, their best moment came at the 2023 Portland Classic.

Chanettee Wannasaen won her first LPGA Tour event as a Monday qualifier

Like Rose Zhang, Wannasaen was a teenage winner on the LPGA tour last season. Yet their trajectory couldn’t have been more different. While Zhang crashed as a meteorite on the LPGA Tour, the Thai kid was still relatively unknown before her first LPGA Tour win. Wannasaen entered the 2023 Portland Classic via the Monday qualifier. Then, it took only 72 holes for her to leave her footprint firmly on the greens.

A dazzling 65 on Saturday catapulted her to the top but by no means secured a victory. On Sunday, four players were within four shots of the lead, even on the back nine. But Wannasaen separated herself from the chasing pack with a bogey-free 9-under 63. She became the only third player to sniff victory after qualifying on Monday.

Laurel Kean at the 2000 State Farm LPGA Classic did it first, and then Brooke Henderson repeated the feat at the 2015 Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. Chanettee Wannasaen has quite a few milestones to cross. But at 20, she has ample time.