Angel Yin wins Honda LPGA Thailand, setting this scoring record in a tense final-round showdown

Angel Yin had a five-shot lead going into the final round of the Honda LPGA Thailand and an 80.7 percent chance to win. Yet, it was anything but an easy Sunday stroll at the Siam Country Club.

The 26-year-old Yin lost her outright lead on the back nine as she fell into a tie with Japanese rookie sensation Akie Iwai, the duel between the two becoming a thrilling battle. But Yin responded, playing steady down the stretch to shoot a final-round seven-under 65 and secure a one-stroke win while setting a new tournament scoring record by two shots. Iwai, an LPGA rookie, shot an 11-under final-round 61 with an eagle on the final hole.

What it means

Yin, a California native who lives in Orlando, claimed her second career LPGA title two weeks after a top-10 finish at the Founders Cup. It’s a sign she’s healthy and playing well as the 2025 season starts to roll on. Yin last won the Buick LPGA Shanghai event in 2023 in a playoff over friend Lilia Vu. She has been in contention many times, but holding off 22-year-old Iwai showed its own brand of resolve.

Iwai made an eagle putt on the 18th to close out her 61. Iwai has an identical twin, Chisato, also a rookie, who tied for 24th. The Iwais have made quite an impression, and it’s not even March. Akie Iwai led after each of the first two rounds after shooting a 10-under 62 and five-under 67, respectively. Yin took the lead Saturday with an eight-under 64 during a round in which she didn’t miss a green in regulation, and she never trailed again.

Not only is this win good for Yin, it’s a good start to the season for U.S. golfers. Americans have now won two of the first three events and neither have been by World No. 1 Nelly Korda (she’s not playing on the Asia swing). Yealimi Noh, also from California, won the Founders Cup for her first win on tour.

How it happened

By day’s end Sunday, Akie Iwai would make 10 birdies, an eagle and a bogey. In posting all those red numbers, she shrunk Yin’s lead to three shots after nine holes, then to two after 10 holes. Yin made a good up-and-down for par on the 11th, but lost another shot to Iwai. Then Iwai made a birdie putt on No. 12 to tie it.

Yin answered on the next hole to grab the lead back by one shot at 13. It was her first of three consecutive birdies and she took command as Iawi, after making five birdies in six holes on Nos. 10-15 ran out of steam, unable to pass Yin, who teed off on the 18th with a two-shot lead.

After the water-bottle celebration on the 18th green, playing partners Iwai, Yin and Jeeno Thitikul shared some smiles and laughs in the scoring tent. The last time anyone shot a number this low in relation to par (28 under) was Lydia Ko, who accomplished the feat at the 2021 Lotte Championship. It was also seven shots lower than Yin’s career-best 72-hole score. Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Xiyu Lin held the previous tournament scoring record. Sei Young Kim holds to all-time career LPGA scoring record in relation to par, shooting 31-under 257 to win the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.

Best of the rest

Three Thailand natives delivered in their home country. Jeeno Thitikul, who celebrated her 22nd birthday during the week, shot a 66 on Sunday to finish third. Thitikul just came off a win in last week’s PIF Saudi Ladies International.

Moriya Jutanugarn shot a 68 on Sunday and tied for fourth. Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit shot a final-round 65 and tied for fourth as well. Tavatanakit chipped in on the 16th hole Sunday, which gave her a third consecutive birdie and run up the leaderboard. Talk about magic at that hole. It was the second time she chipped in on that hole in the tournament. Noh shot a 68 and tied for 11th place.

Quotable

“Probably 17. I hit it tight. Akie went long. I was like, ‘OK, she can make a brilliant up-and-down and I needed to make my birdie. She almost did pull off that brilliant up-and-down but I got lucky.’ And then, coming into 18, it’s the most amazing thing to see the hardest pin on the golf course. ” —Angel Yin on the momentum changer in the final round