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Yin started the final round on the Pattaya Old
Course at Siam Country Club with a five-shot lead. She played
bogey-free. She had four birdies on the last six holes. And it
was barely enough to capture the title.
“I wasn’t that comfortable because Akie shot 10 under the first
day and this course is very gettable. So I just had to keep my
head down,” Yin said.
Akie, who along with twin sister Chisato Akie are LPGA rookies
this year, was dynamic to the very end when she made eagle on
the par-5 closing hole to momentarily tie for the lead. Yin got
her birdie to finish at 28-under 260.
There have been only six lower 72-hole scores in LPGA history,
with Sei Young Kim holding the record of 257, set at the
Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in 2018.
Despite starting the final round with a five-stroke advantage,
Yin faced relentless pressure from Iwai, who was playing on a
sponsor exemption. She charged up the leaderboard and
momentarily shared the lead at 24 under after a birdie on the
12th hole.
However, Yin, who last won at the 2023 Buick LPGA Shanghai,
responded with three consecutive birdies to regain control.
The 26-year-old is the fourth American to capture the LPGA
Thailand title, joining Lilia Vu (2023), Jessica Korda (2018)
and Lexi Thompson (2016).
Despite finishing second, Iwai made history of her own, firing a
tournament-low round of 61. She carded 10 birdies and a closing
eagle against a lone bogey to settle at 261.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand was in third with a 66,
finishing at 267. Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit and
fellow Thai Moriya Jutanugarn shared fourth place at 269.
The event is the first stop of the LPGA’s Asia swing. The tour
moves to Singapore and China over the next two weeks.
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