Chanettee Wannasaen closed with a bogey-free 9-under 63 Sunday at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, climbing from a tie for fifth into a share of second at 21-under 267 at The Standard Portland Classic. The 22-year-old Thai finished one stroke behind fellow Thai Jeeno Thitikul, helping lead a dominant week for Thailand, with the top three finishers and five of the top 10 representing the country.

Wannasaen began the final round at 12-under, four shots off the lead, but quickly turned the deficit into a challenge. After pars on the first two holes, she birdied the par-4 third hole before adding another birdie on the par-5 seventh. She then closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 to turn in 32 and reach 16-under.

The momentum continued on the back nine. Wannasaen birdied the par-5 10th, then added three consecutive birdies on Nos. 13-15 to move to 20-under. Another birdie on the par-4 17th brought her to 21-under before she made par at the 18th to complete the 63.

The nine-birdie round was reminiscent of Wannasaen’s breakthrough performance at Columbia Edgewater in 2023, when she closed with a 9-under 63 to win her first LPGA Tour title. The familiar setting seemed to bring back the confidence she had during that breakthrough week.

“I think today is just like the day [when] I know that I can make [putts], and when I miss the putt I can chip in,” Wannasaen said. “Today I would say, you know, it kind of like the momentum is like the year I won. It’s kind of like feel like that. Like if I make it, I make it.”

Her position on the leaderboard also changed the way she approached the latter part of the round. After opening with four pars and a birdie, Wannasaen began to press forward, knowing she needed a low number to stay within reach of Thitikul.

“After I look at the leaderboard it’s like four shot behind or something, and then after that I would say like I play aggressive,” she said.

The result marked Wannasaen’s best finish of the 2026 season, improving on her two previous top-10 results at the ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern and the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open. Her performance also added another strong chapter to her history at Columbia Edgewater, where she won in 2023.

But the significance of Sunday extended beyond Wannasaen’s own result. Thailand claimed the top three spots on the leaderboard, with five Thai players finishing inside the top 10—a reflection of the growing presence of Thai players competing at the highest level of women’s golf.

For Wannasaen, that success carries a personal connection. She described the Thai players on Tour as a close group who spend time together away from the course and understand the challenges that come with a demanding season.

“Actually I say feel good,” Wannasaen said with a laugh. “Thai people really close. We like to talk, like to hang out together.”

That camaraderie has made watching her fellow countrywomen succeed particularly meaningful, especially because Wannasaen knows the difficult stretches that can come with life on Tour.

“I’m really happy like when I see like them play good,” Wannasaen said. “Because I know like they went through — like sometime they feel like burnout, same exactly me, but we keep going, keep going.”

Chanettee Wannasaen Charges Into Runner-Up Finish at The Standard Portland Classic

Related Articles