Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen and Thai amateur “TK” Ratchanon Chantananuwat share the lead after the first day of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup after firing rounds of 63 (-9) at Siam Country Club.
The duo headed out in the afternoon draw and Nuutinen, who finished fourth in the 2021 Race to Costa del Sol, got off to a flying start.
Four birdies in her first four holes saw the Finn climb the leaderboard, and she continued her excellent start with another four birdies on holes six through nine to make the turn in 28 (-8).
The 30-year-old then rolled in another birdie on the 11th before making six consecutive pars, while a dropped shot on 17th was soon forgotten with a birdie on the last to seal a round of nine-under-par.
“I know I have been doing a lot of good work technique-wise and a little bit in putting,” said Nuutinen.
“I flew home from the LPGA event in Carlsbad to Finland for four days before coming here which was a change of plan. I think that was worth it to see my coaches for a couple of days and this happens next.”
With such a hot start, Nuutinen could be forgiven for thinking about Annika Sorenstam’s round of 59 but she didn’t let it distract her.
She added: “I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about 59 because I did but it was just at one point. I told myself let’s see how low you can go, nothing really changed after I was nine-under I just kept going. Sometimes I have been in that situation before, and you might get a little bit defensive but I’m too old for that.
“I just want to keep going. It is a long tournament and long two events as well, I’m going to stick to my processes. There are still some things I want to work on in my putting and I want to keep working on my swing.”
Alongside the flying Finn is 15-year-old Thai sensation “TK” Ratchanon Chantananuwat who produced a bogey-free round on day one at the Waterside Course.
An opening birdie was soon backed by an eagle on the sixth and three birdies around the turn, three further birdies on the back nine put the teenager as the clubhouse leader before he was joined by Nuutinen.
And it was another remarkable round for the amateur, who has shot two 63s in his last three rounds on the Asian Tour.
“The one thing I have seen with these two 63s is I am not expecting anything. At Black Mountain I birdied 18 to just make the cut,” he said.
“I shot nine-under with zero expectations. The last three weeks since Black Mountain I have not been playing very much, I have been doing a lot of schoolwork.
“Out of the six or seven events I have played on the Asian Tour this one is the least I am prepared for, and yet I shot nine-under, so I am going to have to start doing something with those low expectations.
“With a start like this I am going to try and win it, I now know my approaches aren’t as bad as I thought. I won’t be upset if I don’t shoot nine under again, but I will try and go for as many birdies as possible and make the least birdies as possible.”
Two shots behind the leaders are Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao after they recorded rounds of 65 (-7).
England’s Meghan MacLaren is in a share of fifth place alongside Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasen with the duo ensuring there are three women and three men in the top six spots on the leaderboard.
MacLaren is playing in her first LET event of the season having started the year on the Epson Tour and rolled in one eagle, five birdies and a bogey on her way to a 66.
“I think I was more focused on trying to keep cool than anything else. The scoring is pretty low, and you felt like you needed to take advantage,” said the two-time LET winner.
“I started hot and slowed down a little bit and it was nice to finish with a couple of birdies because I felt like I deserved it. I also holed a pitch from 96 yards on 15 which is always a bonus. I really felt like I hardly missed a shot today. I just got a bit tentative in the middle and it is a good position to be, but it is a long week.
“It is brilliant being back. I hope I keep this feeling with me, and it doesn’t just become normal because it took me a lot of figuring out as to whether it was the right thing to do or not. It is great to be back. It is a relief; I feel like it’s the best thing for me and my golf and a bonus to get a good start today.”
Nine players are tied for seventh place on five-under-par including Thai female trio Chanoknan Angurasaranee, Arpichaya Yubol and amateur Eila Galitsky.
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