[PHOTO: Thananuwat Srirasant]
Angel Yin held a five-shot lead going into the final round of the Honda LPGA Thailand and an 80.7 percent chance to win. Yet, it was anything but an easy Sunday stroll at the Siam Country Club.
The 26-year-old lost her outright lead on the back nine as she fell into a tie with Japanese rookie sensation Akie Iwai, the duel between the two becoming a thrilling battle. But Yin responded, playing steady down the stretch to shoot a final-round seven-under 65 and secure a one-stroke win while breaking the LPGA’s all-time 72-hole scoring record in relation to par with a 28-under 260 total, thanks to the push from rookie Iwai, who shot an 11-under final-round 61.
What it means
Yin, a Californian who lives in Florida, claimed her second career LPGA title two weeks after a top-10 finish at the Founders Cup. It’s a sign she’s healthy and playing well as the 2025 season starts to roll on. Yin last won the Buick LPGA Shanghai event in 2023 in a playoff over friend Lilia Vu. She has been in contention many times, but holding off 22-year-old Iwai showed its own brand of resolve.
Iwai made an eagle putt on the 18th to close out her 61. Iwai has an identical twin, Chisato, also a rookie, who tied for 24th. The Iwais have made quite an impression, and it’s not even March. Akie led after each of the first two rounds after shooting a 10-under 62 and five-under 67, respectively. Yin took the lead on Saturday with an eight-under 64 during a round in which she didn’t miss a green in regulation, and she never trailed again.
Not only is this win good for Yin, it’s a good start to the season for US golfers. Americans have now won two of the first three events and neither have been by world No.1 Nelly Korda (she’s not playing on the Asia swing). Yealimi Noh, also from California, won the Founders Cup for her first win on tour.
By day’s end on Sunday, Akie Iwai would make 10 birdies, an eagle and a bogey. In posting all those red numbers, she shrunk Yin’s lead to three shots after nine holes, then to two after 10 holes. Yin made a good up-and-down for par on the 11th, but lost another shot to Iwai. Then Iwai made a birdie putt on the 12th to tie it.
Yin answered on the next hole to grab the lead back by one shot. It was her first of three consecutive birdies and she took command as Iwai, after making five birdies in six holes on holes 10 to 15 ran out of steam, unable to pass Yin, who teed off on the 18th with a two-shot lead.
After the water-bottle celebration on the 18th green, playing partners Iwai, Yin and Jeeno Thitikul shared some smiles and laughs in the scoring tent. Yin’s 28-under total wound up breaking the previous LPGA record for low score in relation to par, 27-under 261, set by Annika Sorenstam during the 2001 Standard Register Ping. It was also seven shots lower than Yin’s career-best 72-hole score. Yin also broke the tournament scoring record of 26-under 262 set by Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Xiyu Lin in 2022.
https://twitter.com/LPGA/status/1893542585718784288
Aussie watch
Steph Kyriacou, in a tie for 45th at three-under, was the best of the Australians in Thailand. Gabi Ruffels shared 50th spot at two-under. Grace Kim (T-65 at five-over) was the only other Aussie in the field.
Best of the rest
Three Thais delivered in their home country. Thitikul, who celebrated her 22nd birthday during the week, shot a 66 on Sunday to finish third. Thitikul just came off a win in last week’s PIF Saudi Ladies International.
Moriya Jutanugarn shot a 68 on Sunday and tied for fourth. Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit shot a final-round 65 and tied for fourth as well. Tavatanakit chipped in on the 16th hole on Sunday, which gave her a third consecutive birdie and run up the leaderboard. Talk about magic at that hole – it was the second time she chipped in on that hole in the tournament. Noh shot a 68 and tied for 11th place.
With 4 under par rounds at @hondalpgath, Jeeno Thitikul has recorded 31 consecutive under par rounds dating back to the first round of the 2024 FM Championship. Next week, she looks to pass the longest streak of consecutive under par rounds set by Jin Young Ko (34)
— LPGA Media (@LPGAMedia) February 23, 2025
Quotable
“Probably 17. I hit it tight. Akie went long. I was like, ‘OK, she can make a brilliant up-and-down and I needed to make my birdie.’ She almost did pull off that brilliant up-and-down, but I got lucky. And then, coming into 18, it’s the most amazing thing to see the hardest pin on the golf course. ” – Angel Yin on the momentum changer in the final round
