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Lilia Vu shot an immaculate round of eight in 64 to recover from six strokes back and overhaul local favorite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap; Vongtaveelap’s hopes of forcing a play-off were dashed at the final hole
Last updated: 26/02/23 10:51
Lilia Vu claimed a one-shot victory at the LPGA Thailand
American Lilia Vu rode a hot putter to claim her first LPGA crown with a one-shot victory over home favorite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap at the LPGA Thailand on Sunday.
Trailing the local rookie by six strokes earlier in the day, the 25-year-old Vu posted an impressive eight birdies, including five straight from the eighth hole to end his campaign with an eight-under round of 64 for 22-under. 266 total at Siam Country Club Old Course.
“Yesterday my father told me that it only takes one good round and I can win. That’s all I think about,” said Vu, whose first tour victory came after three third-place finishes in 2022.
“Actually today I just blacked out and tried to birdie every hole I could,”
Vu was six shots behind at the start of the day
The UCLA alum returned to the Women’s European Tour in Saudi Arabia last week where she took another third place.
“I know that I will win, only when … and finally,” he added.
Vu became the third American to win the event after Lexi Thompson in 2016 and Jessica Korda in 2018.
Playing in her first LPGA tournament, Vongtaveelap’s lack of experience caused problems for the 20-year-old golfer who had a mixed final round that featured seven birdies offset by a double bogey and four bogeys to enter with totals of 71 and 267.
Natthakritta Vongtaveelap missed an opportunity to force a play-off on the final hole
His hopes of forcing a play-off faded after his birdie attempt at the end landed a foot off the pin.
Thailand will have to wait for its second local champion after former No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn won the 2021 edition.
Another Thai golfer, Atthaya Thitikul, was tied for third after a final round 68 took him to 268.
Sweden’s Maja Stark and France’s Celine Boutier tied for fourth at 271, one above Lydia Ko, who was sixth at 272.
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