BANGKOK (AFP): World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul won the Honda LPGA tournament at home in Thailand on Sunday, shooting 24-under par, one stroke ahead of Japan's Chizzy Iwai.
The 23-year-old Thai began the final day with a two-stroke lead and went on to clinch the top prize at the Siam Country Club Old Course in the coastal resort Pattaya.
Jenno posted seven birdies in both the second and third rounds, and five in the first, and then added another six on Sunday.
"For me, winning in my home country just means a lot," Jeeno said from the victor's podium.
She said her mother came up to her in tears after her round.
"Then I told her, 'I finally won the tournament in front of you. Like you were here with me'," Jeeno said.
"So she's just really emotional. Makes me emotional, too."
Jeeno's sole eagle of the tournament came on a par 5 on Friday, when the now eight-time LPGA Tour winner was also celebrating her 23rd birthday.
Iwai was in a three-way tie coming into the final round behind South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, who ultimately finished third.
Jeeno is the third Thai champion of the LPGA Thailand tournament, following Patty Tavatanakit in 2024 and Ariya Jutanugarn in 2021.
Ariya tied for eighth this year on 18 under.
The Pattaya event kicked off an Asian leg for the LPGA that also takes in Singapore from Thursday and China from March 5-8. -- AFP
