CARLSBAD, Calif. — Atthaya Thitikul gained the JTBC Basic on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, three-putting for bogey on the second gap of a playoff however nonetheless outlasting Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
“It is simply loopy in my thoughts proper now,” Thitikul stated. “I can not imagine that I grew to become LPGA winner. It is really feel wonderful as effectively.”
After Koerstz Madsen’s 15-foot bogey putt hit the sting of the cup and stayed out away, the 19-year-old Thitikul rolled her 10-foot par strive shut and holed out for the breakthrough victory.
“Lots issues going by means of my head,” Thitikul stated. “However one factor that I actually need to focus is like simply, ‘Do your each single shot.′ Identical to, ‘In case you lose, should you win, that is one other probability to be taught. So do your finest each single shot.′ That is it.”
At 19 years, 25 days, Thitikul is the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour since Brooke Henderson within the 2016 Portland Basic at 18 years, 9 months, 23 days. The Thai participant additionally has two victories on the Women European Tour.
Koerstz Madsen misplaced two weeks after successful a playoff in Thailand to turn into the primary Danish champion in LPGA Tour historical past.
They matched pars on the primary further journey down 18, with Thitikul lacking an 8-foot birdie strive. Koerstz Madsen drove left on the second playoff gap and hit her second from an ungainly stance close to the cart half into the greenside water.
“It is a onerous shot,” Koerstz Madsen stated. “It is a hybrid from the tough — not an excellent lie, above the toes. I simply tried to not pull it an excessive amount of from that lie, after which clearly I didn’t pull it. I pushed it rather a lot.”
Thitikul shot an 8-under 64, making 9 birdies and a bogey to publish at 16-under 272 at Aviara Golf Membership within the ultimate occasion earlier than the primary main of the season subsequent week at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage.
Koerstz Madsen, three strokes forward of Na Rin An and and 6 in entrance of Thitikul getting into the spherical, had a 70. She took the lead with a birdie on the par-5 seventeenth, then bogeyed 18 to fall into the playoff.
“It wasn’t an excellent playoff,” Koerstz Madsen stated. “I performed a superb week and I am pleased with the sport. I might have possibly have carried out slightly higher at the moment, nevertheless it was what I might do.”
An was third at 15 beneath after a 68.
“I believe I performed effectively total, however there have been some components that have been a bit disappointing,” An stated. “With a serious event subsequent week, I need to concentrate on my sport much more.”
Prime-ranked Jin Younger Ko (68) was 14 beneath with Pajaree Anannarukarn (68) and Maude-Aimee Leblanc (68). Coming off a victory three weeks in the past in Singapore, Ko prolonged her tour document for consecutive sub-par rounds to 34. She’s gained six of her final 11 tournaments.
“I am very excited to play subsequent week’s main,” Ko stated. “However it is a little unhappy, too, final event at Mission Hills.”
