Lilia Vu charges back in Thailand to claim first victory

Lilia Vu came out firing on a windy day in Thailand. The former UCLA standout began the day six back and birdied two of her first three holes. After carding a string of five consecutive birdies in the middle of the round, Vu took the lead after a birdie on the par-4 15th over local favorite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, an LPGA rookie who was playing the Honda LPGA Thailand on a sponsor exemption.

Vu never looked back.

“Today I basically just blacked out and tried to birdie every single hole,” said Vu. “If I didn’t, just move on and try again.

“Got into the scoring tent and didn’t know what I shot.”

Vu, 25, who was making her debut at the Honda, carded a bogey-free 64 on Sunday to finish at 22 under and clip Vongtaveelap (71) by one stroke to win her first LPGA title. Former World No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul finished two back after a closing 68.

Vu hit 11 fairways and 11 greens and needed only 21 putts Sunday, pouring in a lengthy putt for par on the 17th to maintain the lead.

“I knew I was going to win,” said Vu. “It was just when.”

A host of big names finished in a share of sixth, including current World No. 1 Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Leona Maguire and Jin Young Ko, who also shot 64.

Jin Young, who suffered from a severe wrist injury last season, says meditating helped her greatly over the offseason. Thailand marked the first time Ko has recorded four rounds in the 60s at a tournament since the 2022 Amundi Evian.

She’ll be defending her title next week in Singapore.

“I cried a lot last year in front of my parents,” Jin Young said, “but, yeah, golf is a lot of ups and downs so we have to focus on my game and try to get better then better. I think it works.”

Lydia Ko, who won last week in Saudi Arabia on the LET, said her putting wasn’t as strong in Thailand.

A bogey on the second hole and a double-bogey on the fourth made it all the more difficult for 20-year-old Vongtaveelap, who earned her LPGA card through Q-Series last December and was playing her first tour event as a member.

“I need to practice more on playing against the strong wind,” she said.

Clutch par putt by @TheLiliaVu on 17 to maintain her lead by 1! 😤

Watch the finish of the @hondalpgath on @GolfChannel!