After Lexi Thompson in 2016 and Jessica Korda in 2018, Vu was the third American to win the Honda LPGA Thailand
American Lilia Vu clinched the Honda LPGA Thailand 2023 title held at the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club on a windy day by one stroke over 54-hole leader and local favorite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap. The 25-year-old Vu, who had a six-stroke deficit to the local rookie at the beginning of the day, stormed eight birdies, including five straight from the eighth hole, to finish her round of 8-under 64 for a 22-under 266 score at Siam Country Club Old Course. After Lexi Thompson in 2016 and Jessica Korda in 2018, Vu was the third American to win the competition.
On the day four at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2023, Thai youngster Vongtaveelap struggled to maintain her composure under pressure. She birdied the first, appearing to be in full command, but a bogey on the next seemed to shake her confidence. After returning with a birdie on hole 5, she doubled the par-3 fourth hole before making another bogey at hole six. After back-to-back birdies on holes 7 and 8, then a bogey on hole 9, Vongtaveelap finished with a score of 37. Vongtaveelap finished the round with four pars, which included one at the par-5 18th when she successfully chipped her third shot onto the green to finish at -21 and lose by one shot.
This implied that Thailand would have to wait longer for a second local victory after former world number one Ariya Jutanugarn won in 2021. Atthaya Thitikul, another golfer from Thailand, finished third with a final-round score of 68 and a 268 total. Atthaya Thitikul, a two-time LPGA Tour champion, struggled to get going on Sunday. However, she finally found some energy on the final nine holes, carding a 4-under 68 to place third. Despite a disappointing final day, Thitikul was happy with her performance and was immensely appreciative of the opportunity to compete in front of so many supporters in her native nation.
Maja Stark of Sweden and Celine Boutier of France wrapped off their weeks in the top five, finishing in a tie for fourth at -17. Jin Young Ko matched Vu’s 8-under 64 to move up from T27 to a tie for sixth place with Lydia Ko, who is ranked first in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, former no.1 American golfer Nelly Korda, and Leona Maguire of Ireland. Previous winner Nanna Koerstz Madsen placed T38.
Position | Player | Score | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Total |
1 | Lilia Vu | -22 | 66 | 70 | 66 | 64 | 266 |
2 | Natthakritta Vongtaveelap | -21 | 67 | 65 | 64 | 71 | 267 |
3 | Atthaya Thitikul | -20 | 67 | 69 | 64 | 68 | 268 |
T4 | Maja Stark | -17 | 66 | 67 | 69 | 69 | 271 |
T4 | Celine Boutier | -17 | 68 | 66 | 67 | 70 | 271 |
T6 | Jin Young Ko | -16 | 68 | 70 | 70 | 64 | 272 |
T6 | Leona Maguire | -16 | 67 | 68 | 72 | 65 | 272 |
T6 | Nelly Korda | -16 | 68 | 66 | 69 | 69 | 272 |
T6 | Lydia Ko | -16 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 69 | 272 |
T10 | Jodi Ewart Shadoff | -15 | 69 | 66 | 71 | 67 | 273 |
T10 | Georgia Hall | -15 | 67 | 68 | 70 | 68 | 273 |
T10 | Hyo Joo Kim | -15 | 67 | 70 | 66 | 70 | 273 |
T10 | Ashleigh Buhai | -15 | 72 | 65 | 66 | 70 | 273 |
T10 | Anna Nordqvist | -15 | 65 | 70 | 67 | 71 | 273 |
Read more: Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour 2022-23: List of All the Winners