Jeeno Thitikul clinched the title at the LPGA Portland Classic on Sunday in a nail-biting finish, leaving her compatriots Chanettee Wannasaen and Arpichaya Yubol just barely behind – a single stroke made all the difference!
What an incredible round from the world No. 2! Jeeno fired a 64, highlighted by eight birdies and an eagle, at Edgewater Country Club. She snatched the lead with a sensational birdie on the penultimate hole and never relinquished it. In the end, she finished at an impressive 22 under par with a total of 266 strokes on the scorecard.
This was Jeeno's third title in 2026 – following her victories at the Honda LPGA Thailand and the Mizuho America's Open. This brings her total to ten LPGA trophies. She's on a roll! After her win, she revealed how much hard work and self-doubt go into such a triumph. But in the end, it’s exactly that feeling for which one gives their all: "Every win means so much. The sacrifices we make, the work we put in. There were times when I doubted what was going on with my game. And when you finally achieve it, you just think, 'Wow, this is what you've been waiting for!'"
Chanettee Wannasaen, who was also eagerly pursuing her third LPGA crown, didn't let up. An incredible round of 63 with nine birdies and not a single bogey! On the 17th hole, she drew level with a birdie, but a par on the 18th prevented a playoff. Finishing at 21 under par with a total of 267 strokes, she was hot on her competitor's heels and showed that she is always ready for a stellar performance.
Jeeno had started the final day two strokes behind co-leaders Sophia Schubert and Arpichaya Yubol. Both were hoping to celebrate their first LPGA title in 2026 – but Jeeno had other plans. She came out firing: Within the first seven holes, she recorded six birdies, including a streak of five consecutive from the third to the seventh hole. Absolutely insane! A bogey on the ninth hole? No matter! She immediately struck back with an eagle on the par-5 tenth. A 25-foot putt – boom, the lead was hers! Even a bogey on the par-5 twelfth and a birdie on the 14th kept her in front, but the pressure from Chanettee was immense, as she delivered five more birdies on the back nine.
Jeeno showed nerves of steel: A crucial par-save on the 16th, followed by a birdie on the 17th. And on the final 18th hole, two putts from the fringe were enough to seal the victory and pass the test of nerves. Arpichaya Yubol was also in contention for a long time, with four birdies on the first seven holes. Despite a bogey on the twelfth hole, she fought back with two birdies at the end to share second place. What a final, golfers!
