Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship: Thai teen Ratchanon shakes off favourite tag, as Taichi Kho leads Hong Kong charge
- Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, 15, ranked highest among those involved in Bangkok, but says ‘I think we’re all level here’
- Kho insists he’s ‘just appreciating the opportunity this week’ but will be looking to go one better on runners-up finish in 2021
No one, it seems, wants the mantle of pre-tournament favourite at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship this week in Thailand – not the local teenage star, not last year’s runner-up, and not this year’s US Junior champion.
The home nation’s Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat is ranked highest in the world among those involved at Amata Spring Country Club, but on Wednesday, after a final practice round where he holed a 187-yard 5-iron on 18, he said that did not necessarily mean anything.
At 15 years old, Ratchanon is learning about expectation and pressure, his recent economics exam involved a “whole other level” of stress. But favourite?
“The talent level here is amazing,” he said. “To be quiet honest with you, maybe sometimes the rankings don’t reflect that. I think we’re all level, everyone has a chance to win.
“I’m just trying not to think of that, and not put pressure on myself at all.”
Denying the favourites tag is nothing new of course in golf, or any other sport – there is enough pressure to perform without it. And while players occasionally embrace the moniker, the most repeated response when asked on Wednesday involved phrases about “just focusing on this week” and “looking to have fun”.
