Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan captured his second Asian Tour title at the SJM Macao Open 2024, finishing with a four-under-par round on the final day to complete a 20-under total for the tournament.
Wannasrichan, who set the tone with a blistering nine-under-par 61 on the opening day, maintained his lead throughout the week, following up with rounds of 66, 67, and 66 in the final round to close out a dominant performance.
Reflecting on his win, which was shared with his girlfriend Manuschaya Zeemakorn, a Thai LPGA Tour player who served as his caddie this week, Wannasrichan said: “I’m feeling so happy. I can’t describe how I feel besides just being so happy. I really want to thank myself for not giving up during the tough times and for the hard work this season. I wanted to win, but I also didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself.”
Wannasrichan’s victory marks his second on the Asian Tour, following his 2017 triumph at the Thailand Open. He came close to adding another title in 2022 but narrowly missed out in a playoff against Tom Kim at the Singapore International. When asked about the key to his success this week, he emphasised the importance of patience: “The biggest improvement I’ve made is learning to control my patience. I tried not to think about winning, which helped me stay focused and calm.”
Runner-up Gunn Charoenkul could not close the gap on his compatriot, scoring three-under-par today to finish 18-under for the tournament. Charoenkul reflected on his performance, acknowledging how close he came but also the need for continued perseverance: “I’m very happy even though I couldn’t get the job done today. I guess I still have to wait. I had a chance after the 8th hole, but the bogey on the 9th killed the momentum a little bit. I guess it’s not my time, but I’m happy with how my putter saved me and gave me some breathing room.”
Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai produced one of the standout performances of the final day, carding a six-under-par 64, which included seven birdies and one bogey, to climb the leaderboard and finish third. Supupramai was particularly proud of his performance given the demanding schedule leading up to the tournament: “I’m very happy with my performance this week because I’ve been really tired from the last two weeks. I played 54 holes in two days and only had time to practise 11 holes here. I just wanted to keep my body fresh, so I’m thrilled to have finished third.”
Meanwhile, Asian Tour Order of Merit leader John Catlin finished tied for fourth after a five-under-par round saw him end with a 15-under total. The six-time Asian Tour winner reflected positively on his performance despite not challenging for the win: “Anytime you shoot four rounds under par, it’s always nice. I never really challenged Rattanon, but you never know what can happen if you get hot at the right time. He’s been playing great golf, so hats off to him for pulling away from the rest of us.”
He was joined in fourth place by the Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena, who thrilled the crowd with a spectacular eagle on the 18th to cap off his round of 63. Tabuena, celebrating his birthday, described the final day as particularly special: “It was nice to shoot 63 on my birthday. Yesterday, I was frustrated after only managing one birdie and one bogey, but today felt different. The hole looked bigger, and I just tried to stay patient and capitalise on my opportunities.”
This year’s tournament was of special significance, coinciding with the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR. As Macao continues to grow its global sporting presence, the SJM Macao Open continues to stand out as one of the most anticipated events on the Asian golfing calendar.
Fans were treated to a week of world-class golf and family-friendly activities at the tournament's vibrant fan village, which included food and beverage stalls, putting and chipping challenges, and more.
