Jeeno Thitikul claimed her fourth title of the year at the LPGA Tour's Lotte Championship in Hawaii. The world number two from Thailand left no doubt on the greens of Hoakalei Country Club on Oahu, securing a three-shot victory over South Korea's Yoon In-a. Japan's Miyu Yamashita completed the podium in third place, while Berlin's Polly Mack secured a respectable tie for tenth place, eight shots back. Excellent showing by the German!
However, the true test of nerves came at the 16th hole: a double bogey! Suddenly, she was only 19 under par, and her lead began to shrink. But Jeeno wouldn't be Jeeno if she let that rattle her. With two consecutive birdies on holes 17 and 18, she turned the tables once more, re-established her lead, and thus avoided a nerve-wracking playoff.
“I have absolutely no idea how I managed that,” admitted a visibly relieved Jeeno after her sensational finish. “It was a really tough battle with In-a. She played incredibly well on the front nine. The 16th was awful, a terrible hole for me. But I just told myself: there are still two holes to play, and anything can happen.” That ice-cold mentality, golfers, that's what champions are made of.
