Thailand’s Wannasaen holds on to lead heading into final round
From Epson Tour media relations and local reports
WORLEY — After 36 holes and lots of movement on the third annual Circling Raven Championship leaderboard, Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen is holding on to a one-shot lead heading into today’s final round.
Wannasaen signed for a second-round 4-under 68, and sits at 9-under for the tournament. The 19-year-old carded six birdies, the same as her first round, and a lone double bogey on Saturday. Today will be the first time the LPGA and Epson Tour rookie finds herself in the final group, which is scheduled to tee off at 12:20 p.m.
Paired with Wannasaen, and one shot back at 8-under, is Minji Kang. The Republic of Korea native has played in the final group before, last doing so earlier this season at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship, and will lean on that experience to ease any nerves she might be feeling as she looks to close out the tournament today.
“First of all, I need to not think of the results and enjoy,” Kang said. “I’ll also focus a little bit more than the other days.”
Like Wannasaen, Kang also signed for a 4-under 68 on day two. The current No. 10 in the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card started her round strong, carding four birdies on the course’s back nine and making the turn bogey-free. However, her three birdies on the course’s front nine either came immediately before or after a bogey to finish out her round. Despite having three bogeys on her card, Kang was happy with the end result when she walked off the course.
“I was trying to play aggressive, even though it was a bit windy on the front nine,” Kang said. “I had a good feeling with my irons, and I made some short putts. I had a good round today.”
Also in the mix, sitting in solo third, is Thailand’s Keera Foocharoen. The 23-year-old had one of the lower scores of the day, firing a 5-under 67. She will tee it up on today just two shots behind her fellow countrywoman, Wannasaen.
“It’s good that I get to wake up late,” Foocharoen said with a laugh. “I’m glad that I get to play in the second-to-last group, but I’ll focus shot by shot, talk about something with my mom during the round, and try to smile a lot. That’ll help me play better.”
Foocharoen only had one blip on the card during the second round, carding six birdies and a lone bogey. Focused on her game, she said she didn’t know her score coming down the stretch and felt good walking off the final green.
A total of 66 players made the cut at 1-over, including defending champion Jillian Hollis (-3). Twins Jenny and Kristin Coleman, who sit at even-par and 5-under, respectively, also made the cut on their birthday with Kristin recording a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh hole from 170 yards.
Pauline Del Rosario shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and moved from a tie for 33rd after the first round to a T-4 heading into today.
“What helped me shoot as low as I did today was my driving,” she said. “I kept it in the fairway a lot more than yesterday, and I can’t forget my eagle on No. 3. I was in the bunker, front left, and it went in. Everything was good from there on. I made two birdies after that and the rest is history.”
LOCAL ANGLE
Gracie McGovern, a rising senior at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Christian and the daughter of Sandpoint High grad Sean McGovern, and niece of former Sandpoint volleyball star and head coach Erin (McGovern) Roos, shot 73-76 and finished at 5-over par. Those who shot 1-over and better made the cut.
Gracie McGovern, who has verbally committed to play at TCU in 2024, qualified for the Circling Raven Championship by winning the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship last November in Louisiana.
LEADERBOARD
Chanettee Wannasaen 67-68—135 -9
Minji Kang 68-68—136 -8
Keera Foocharoen 70-67—137 -7
Robyn Choi 72-66—138 -6
Pauline Del Rosario 71-67—138 -6
Clariss Guce 69-69—138 -6
Kaitlyn Papp Budde 68-70—138 -6
