HONOLULU — Jeeno Thitikul survived a late scare to claim her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the 2026 season at the Lotte Championship at Hoakalei Country Club in Honolulu. The 23-year-old Thai star finished at 21-under-par 267, three strokes clear of the field, to secure her 11th career win since joining the tour in 2022 and tie Nelly Korda for the most titles this year.
Thitikul started the final round with a three-stroke lead and held it through the front nine after a birdie at the par-five first and single strokes on holes seven and eight to turn at 33. She added five straight pars to open the back nine and a birdie at the par-three 15th to extend the margin, before driving into the water at the par-four 16th for a double-bogey six that dropped her to 19 under. South Korea's Ina Yoon shot a 4-under 68 to finish alone in second at 18 under, with Japan's Miyu Yamashita third at 17 under and American Auston Kim fourth at 16 under. Thitikul answered the setback with consecutive birdies at 17 and 18 to seal the win.
"It definitely feels so bad after finishing the 16, but I also told myself that I still in the bubble, and then I feel like I trying to play my game, not other or anyone game," Thitikul said, as reported by Reuters. "So I just really want to focus on what I have, because on my mind I think… if I still have a shot, I still have a chance, no matter (if) it's going to be good or bad, I have nothing to lose," she added. "I know 16 was terrible," Thitikul said afterwards.
Yoon, her playing partner, praised the response, noting that Thitikul played really incredible golf today. Golf Digest Middle East reported Thitikul looked vulnerable for the first time all week after the double bogey erased the lead she had built over four days, but her immediate regroup showed why she has been the tour's most consistent player.
The victory adds to a resume that includes a win in Thailand in February, the Mizuho Americans Open and the Standard Portland Classic, with Yahoo Sports noting her second win came in May and third in August. Nelly Korda regained the No. 1 ranking in April after winning the Chevron Championship, but Thitikul entered the week with five straight top-10 results, three in majors, and has now strengthened her hold on the world No. 2 spot.