Angel Yin staved off the problem of Japan’s Akie Iwai on Sunday to etch her title into LPGA Tour historical past with a record-breaking victory on the Honda LPGA Thailand.
Getting into play with a five-stroke lead, Yin carded seven birdies throughout her bogey-free spherical to complete at 7-under-par 65 on Sunday and 28-under 260 for the event at Siam Nation Membership’s Pattaya Outdated Course. She broke the 72-hole event scoring file set by Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Xiyu Lin in 2022.
Yin’s regular play was simply sufficient to maintain Iwai at bay and wrap up her second profession LPGA Tour title. Iwai, who started the tourney with a 62, was one stroke higher on Sunday with an 18-hole course-record 61.
“I imply, I’ve by no means performed the ultimate spherical with a five-shot lead. I knew I wasn’t tremendous snug. It is not a event or golf course the place 5 pictures is quite a bit,” Yin mentioned. “Contemplating that Akie shot Thursday 10-under, I knew she was ready and able to capturing a low rating. Together with Jeeno (Thitikul), Moriya (Jutanugarn), and Patty (Tavatanakit), and everybody that was enjoying, like A Lim (Kim) who received at first of the yr.
“I knew I simply wanted to maintain enjoying how I used to be enjoying and we’ll see what occurs.”
Iwai momentarily shared the lead at 24-under after a birdie on the twelfth gap. The 22-year-old completed with 10 birdies over her first 16 holes earlier than taking a step again with a bogey on the par-4 seventeenth.
Iwai ended with a closing eagle; nevertheless, Yin birdied her ultimate gap to pocket the first-prize verify of $255,000 for successful the event, her first since capturing the Buick LPGA Shanghai in 2023.
“One time I catch up Angel, however she is de facto good,” Iwai mentioned. “… There isn’t a room to get in. She performed significantly better than me. That is it.”
Yin’s 260 was seven strokes higher than her earlier greatest 72-hole rating set on the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship.
The 26-year-old Californian additionally recorded the bottom 72-hole rating in relation to par on the LPGA Tour since Lydia Ko on the 2021 LOTTE Championship.
Thitikul, a runner-up in 2021, carded a 67 on Sunday to complete in third place at 21-under for the event.
“Every part is about course of, after which if it is good, it is good. If it isn’t good, simply take it. It is simply life,” Thitkul mentioned. “You possibly can’t be good all of the day after which you possibly can’t be unhealthy all week lengthy.”
Fellow Thai natives Tavatanakit (65), the defending champion, and Jutanugarn (68) tied for fourth place at 19-under.
–Discipline Stage Media