CHONBURI, THAILAND — World No. 1 Gino Titikul defeated Japan’s Chizy Iwai by one stroke to say his first victory on the native LPGA Thailand event, emphasizing and justifying his enormous prize cash.
Buoyed by a raucous residence crowd, the Thai star remained calm regardless of the sweltering climate and intense stress, posting a remaining four-under-par 68 to complete at 24-under 264.
The win was her eighth LPGA Tour title and her first in her residence nation.
“I might fee it triple-plus,” the 23-year-old stated. “I do know it isn’t as huge as a significant, however successful in my residence nation means quite a bit to me. Typically it means greater than a significant.”
Titikul is the third Thai winner of this event, following Aliya Jutanugarn in 2021 and Pati Thavatanakit in 2024.
The victory was made much more particular by the truth that her mom was capable of watch in individual after the Thai athlete had accomplished eight earlier makes an attempt on the event.
“After I turned 18, my mom got here to me and cried quite a bit,” Titikul stated. “I instructed her that I lastly received in entrance of you. She was emotional and so was I.”
Iwai, ranked nineteenth on this planet, continued to place up a robust problem, quickly catching up with the rating after making his second eagle of the day on the par-5 tenth gap.
Nonetheless, the Japanese golfer was unable so as to add one other birdie and shot a 66 to take second place at 23 beneath and 265.
Kim Hyo-joo of South Korea, who’s ranked ninth on this planet, shot a 68 to take third place with 22 beneath par and 266, whereas her compatriot Lee So Mi, who led the opening spherical, took 4th place with 21 beneath par and 267.
Former world No. 1 Lydia Ko shot a 68 to tie for fifth place with Denmark’s Nanna Kjerts Madsen. Madsen shot the bottom spherical of the day with a superb 63, and each completed the week at 20-under 268.
Defending champion Angel Ying shot a 70 and tied for forty eighth at 5-under 283.
The event, about 125 kilometers (75 miles) east of Bangkok, was the primary of three tournaments to be held in consecutive weeks in Asia on the LPGA Tour’s so-called early Asian swing, adopted by tournaments in Singapore and China.
