Pattaya, Thailand: With the roars of her adoring fans reverberating around Siam Country Club’s Old Course, Jeeno Thitikul emerged from a nerve-shredding final-day shootout with Japan’s Chisato ‘Chizzy’ Iwai to claim victory in the 19th edition of the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Underlining her status as world number one, Jeeno delighted her faithful followers by capturing her eighth LPGA Tour title, banking a cheque for US$270,000 and becoming the third Thai to have her name etched on the coveted trophy, following Ariya Jutanugarn in 2021 and Patty Tavatanakit in 2024.

Holding her nerve in the face of Iwai’s spirited charge, Jeeno posted a closing four-under-par 68. Her 72-hole total of 24-under 264 was one stroke ahead of Iwai, who swooped with two eagles in a bogey-free 66, exerting extreme pressure on Jeeno.

But it was Jeeno who prevailed, prompting an outpouring of joy at the Pattaya venue as she was drenched in water by her fellow-Thai players before being hugged by her mother.

Jeeno said: “For me, winning in my home country means a lot … more than a major feeling. I would rate it like A+++. My mom came up to me when I finished 18 and she cried a lot, and I told her: ‘I finally won the tournament in front of you’. She was really emotional – and that made me emotional, too.”

Victory for Jeeno, who celebrated her 23rd birthday on Friday, was the perfect denouement, too, for tournament sponsors, officials and, most of all, the thousands of members of the Jeeno Thitikul Fan Group who strode the fairways cheering her on throughout the week.

It was Jeeno’s third win in her last five LPGA Tour starts and will cement her position atop the Women’s Rolex Ranking. Following bogey-free rounds of 67 and 63, Jeeno swept to the top of the leaderboard with a 66 on Saturday. Despite Iwai’s best efforts, the Thai would not be displaced from the summit.

It was the second year in succession that an Iwai played the role of hunter on the final day at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Twelve months ago, Chizzy’s twin sister, Akie, blazed her way to a closing course record 11-under 61, eventually ending one shot shy of American Angel Yin.

Despite having to settle for second place, Iwai, who began the day three strokes back in joint third, said: “Six-under was not bad. I didn’t get to win, but I feel proud. This will give me confidence and make me trust my instincts. It’s going to be fun this season.”

Over the four days, Jeeno had one eagle (at the seventh on day two) and 25 birdies against just three bogeys, two of which came in the final round, at the fourth and 13th, on both occasions failing to get up-and-down from greenside bunkers after miscalculated approach shots.

For the most part, though, Jeeno played immaculately and appeared in control. She was rarely out of position and on the few occasions that danger threatened she invariably found a way to extricate herself.

Kim Hyo-joo, two shots off the pace in second place overnight, finished third on 266 with fellow-Korean Lee So-mi, the half-way leader, a further shot back in fourth.

The round of the day came from Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who once more showed her liking for the Old Course layout. Winner here in 2022, the Dane finished in a blaze of glory with eagles at the 15th and 18th propelling her to an eight-under 28 on the back nine. With a 63 she soared into a share of fifth place with New Zealand’s Lydia Ko on 268.