Thitikul answers late double with a long birdie to win LOTTE

Jeeno Thitikul won the LOTTE Championship on Sunday, answering a double bogey at the 16th with a long birdie putt at the next hole. Her closing four-under 68 gave her a 21-under 267 total at Hoakalei Country Club, three strokes ahead of Ina Yoon.

The victory was Thitikul’s fourth of the season, confirmed by both the LPGA and Golf Channel after the finish. It followed rounds of 67, 65 and 67 that had given her a three-shot lead going into Sunday in Ewa Beach, Oahu. She finished the last round with the same margin, although the closing stretch briefly brought Yoon level.

Yoon entered the day tied for second and also shot 68, finishing at 18-under 270. The official results put Miyu Yamashita third at 17 under after a 67, with Auston Kim fourth at 16 under following her own 67. Michelle Zhang and Maja Stark shared fifth at 15 under.

Thitikul’s most expensive mistake came on the par-three 16th. Her tee shot found the penalty area and she made double bogey, surrendering the cushion she had carried into the hole. The LPGA’s live video and accompanying update showed the tournament tied at that point.

Her response came immediately. Thitikul holed a birdie putt from about 30 feet at the 17th to regain the lead, according to the LPGA’s account of the play. The putt restored an outright advantage with one hole remaining after the penalty had opened the contest to Yoon.

That exchange gave Sunday a different shape from Saturday’s round. Thitikul had used five back-nine birdies in the third round to separate from the field, Golf Channel reported before the finale. This time she had to repair a late mistake while another player remained close enough to benefit from it.

Golf Channel’s winning clip captures the conclusion in Hawaii and confirms Thitikul’s fourth title of the season.