Previous world primary Atthaya, ends up 3rd
American Lilia Vu nabbed the LPGA Thailand prize from Thai novice Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, scoring a one-shot triumph after a helter-skelter last round on Sunday.
The Californian had actually reasonably just remained in contention for a top-five surface as gamers teed off in gusty headwinds at the Siam Nation Club in Pattaya however carded an eight-under-par last round of 64 to win.
Natthakritta, 20, had actually likewise struck a 64 in Saturday’s 3rd round to keep the competition lead however the title slipped from her grasp with a one-under closing round of 71.
Vu’s fortunes altered at the 8th hole, where she struck the very first of 5 successive birdies.
That established the 25-year-old for a winning 22-under-par overall of 266, her very first Rolex LPGA trip triumph that included cash prize of $255,000.
” The other day I was believing– my father was informing me one excellent round tomorrow and I might win. That’s all I kept considering,” she stated.
Vu nearly stumbled at the challenging 17th hole prior to righting herself to conserve par and keep her narrow lead.
” Today I essentially simply blacked out and attempted to birdie every hole,” she stated.
” I constantly wish to win when I’m out here,” she stated. “I simply wished to permit it to occur and it lastly did.”
It was a bitter end to an excellent efficiency for Natthakritta, who came out of relative obscurity after getting a competition invite from a sponsor.
She had actually gotten a shock lead by the middle of the competition with succeeding rounds of 65 and 64 in front of passionate regional advocates.
Natthakritta began 6 shots clear of Vu, and 2 ahead of her nearby competitor, compatriot Atthaya Thitikul, however extreme nerves betrayed her on a scorecard that consisted of 4 bogeys and a double bogey.
There was a twinkle of wish for Natthakritta with a steadying par at the 13th, followed by a distinctive birdie at the par-three 14th.
Nevertheless, it was far too late to stop Vu’s stable development through the back 9 after her earlier birdie blitz.
Atthaya, a previous world primary and runner-up in the 2021 competition, ended up third after a final-round 68.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko played strong if unexciting golf to move silently up the scoreboard.
However the New Zealander was reversed by a double-bogey and bogey surface on the last 2 holes to card a 69 for a share of 6th.
