Angel on Cloud Nine after Epic Honda LPGA Thailand Victory
(Chonburi, Thailand – 23 February 2025) – Records tumbled as Angel Yin defied Akie Iwai in an epic final-day duel at the 2025 Honda LPGA Thailand.
Despite firing a tournament best 11-under-par 61, Japan’s Iwai was edged out by American Yin after an extraordinary and mesmerising contest to rival any that have preceded it in the tournament’s storied 18-year history.
Five shots ahead of LPGA Tour rookie Iwai at the start of the day, Yin withstood every punch her rival threw at her en route to carding a flawless seven-under-par 65.
It was her second consecutive bogey-free round, giving her a four-day aggregate of 28-under 260 and a one-stroke success from Iwai, who made a stunning last-hole eagle to ensure the tournament went right down to the wire. Both players bettered the previous low tournament total of 262 posted by Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Lin Xiyu in 2022.
Thais Jeeno Thitikul (66), Moriya Jutanugarn (68) and defending champion Patty Tavatanakit (65) all performed brilliantly, finishing third and joint fourth respectively, but could only look on in bewilderment as the top two blitzed the Siam Country Club’s Old Course.
In what will go down in the annals as one of the great final-day duels in LPGA Tour history, the numbers were simply staggering. Between them, Yin and Iwai snared 17 birdies and an eagle with a better ball score of 15-under 57.
In front of record galleries of more than 45,000 who flocked to the Chonburi venue over the course of the four days, it was a brilliant exhibition of world-class golf from two players for whom multiple top-level triumphs surely await.
For Yin, who leaned on the experience of local caddie Sakchai Sirimaya (Tom) after her regular looper fell ill at the start of the week, it was the second win of her LPGA Tour career, adding to her victory at the Buick LPGA Shanghai in 2023.
Throughout the week, she was in formidable form, following an opening 67 with back-to-back 64s and a 65 to sign off with. Across 72 holes she made 30 birdies and just two bogeys, at the 15th on day one and the seventh on day two. She did not drop a shot over the last 47 holes.
Nonetheless, she was pushed all the way by the fearless 22-year-old Iwai, a six-time winner on the Japan LPGA Tour who is destined to become one of the next superstars in the women’s game.
Bidding to become only the sixth sponsor invite to win on the LPGA Tour in the last 20 years, Iwai quickly made inroads into Yin’s healthy overnight lead, birdies at three of the first four holes reducing the deficit to just two in the US$1.7 million (about 60 million baht) showpiece.
Yin began conservatively with four straight pars but stepped up a gear with three successive birdies of her own from the fifth. Her lead was three at the turn. But Iwai, five-under at that point, still would not lie down, rolling home further birdie putts at 10, 11 and 12 to draw level.
With tension mounting, Yin responded with a courageous birdie three at 13 to re-established the lead. The duo continued to match each other blow-for-blow before Iwai missed the green right on 17 and lipped out with her par putt, giving Yin a two-stroke cushion going to the last.
Still the drama was not over. Both players struck majestic second shots to the treacherously positioned pin at the back of the 18th green. After seeing Yin’s eagle attempt slide two feet beyond the cup, Iwai holed a lightning-quick 22-foot downhill putt for a three.
Maintaining the commendable mental fortitude she displayed all week, Yin duly rolled home her birdie effort to avoid the prospect of a sudden-death play-off and seal a win for the ages.
She said: “I stuck to my strategy and didn’t really budge. I knew I had to do that, because there was nothing else. I didn’t need to change my strategy because that was the best strategy going in because it brought me to where I was today.”
Iwai was magnanimous in her assessment. “One time I caught up with Angel, but she played really well. She didn’t give me any room to get in. She played better than me. That’s it.”
Reflecting on their own performances, Jeeno, Tavatanakit and Moriya were all in bullish spirits.
“It’s been a good week. Really nice to finish top-three in my home country and also during my birthday week,” said Jeeno, who battled back from a double-bogey at the second hole that left her with too much ground to make up. The world number two covered the final 16 holes in eight-under and appears set fair for another memorable year. “I just want to keep the momentum going and then we’ll see what this year holds,” she added.
Tavatanakit said: “It means a lot to play in front of friends and family and Thai fans. This is an event which inspires a lot of young Thai players, including myself when I was younger. To come back, defend, and to finish in the top-five was an amazing feeling.”
Moriya concurred. She said: “This tournament always means a lot for the Thai players. We always get really good support from the fans, and it’s good to have family and some friends come. It’s one of the really fun weeks.”
Fittingly, the most appropriate epitaph to a day that will live long in the memories of those fortunate enough to witness it was emblazoned on Yin’s golf bag: ‘It’s a good day to have a good day’. For Yin, they will not come much better than this one.