Atthaya Thitikul Wins LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii
Atthaya Thitikul won the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii on September 4, capturing her fourth title of the season with a 21-under-par total and a $450,000 check. The victory pushes her career earnings past $20 million, making her the sixth woman ever to achieve that mark. Other Thai golfers posted solid finishes, with Pajaree Anannarukarn tied for 13th and Pornnong Phetlueang tied for 60th.
Atthaya Thitikul won the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii on September 4, marking her fourth victory of the season. In the final round she made a double-bogey on the 16th hole but recovered to battle Lee Na-yu of South Korea, both tied at 19-under par. On the 17th, Lee missed a putt for bogey while Thikitul made a birdie to take a two-stroke lead. She carried that confidence into the 18th, closing with a birdie to finish at 21-under par and claim the $450,000 prize. This win adds to her earlier season titles at the Standard Bank Portland Classic, the Mizuno Americas Open and the Honda LPGA event, giving her 11 LPGA career victories, just one shy of the Thai record of 12 held by Ariya Jutanugan. Other Thai golfers finished as follows: Pajaree Anannarukarn (Miaw) tied for 13th at 12-under-par 276, Pornnong Phetlueang (Wan) tied for 60th at 3-under-par 285, and Chanettee Wannasaen (Prao) tied for 67th at 1-under-par 287. Additionally, Thitikul surpassed $20 million in career earnings, becoming only the sixth player to reach that milestone after Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Nelly Korda (USA), Karrie Webb (Australia) and Christie Kerr (USA).
