Atthaya Thitikul wins JTBC Classic for first LPGA Tour title

Atthaya Thitikul won the JTBC Classic on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, three-putting for bogey on the second hole of a playoff to outlast Nanna Koerstz Madsen.

After Koerstz Madsen's 15-foot bogey putt hit the edge of the cup and stayed out away, the 19-year-old Thitikul rolled her 10-foot par try close and holed out for the breakthrough victory.

At 19 years, 25 days, Thitikul is the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour since Brooke Henderson in the 2016 Portland Classic at 18 years, 9 months, 23 days. The Thai player also has two victories on the Ladies European Tour.

Atthaya Thitikul, of Thailand, reaches out to the gallery after finishing her round during the final round of the JTBC LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP PhotoDenis Poroy)

Koerstz Madsen lost two weeks after winning a playoff in Thailand to become the first Danish champion in LPGA Tour history.

They matched pars on the first extra trip down 18, with Thitikul missing an 8-foot birdie try. Koerstz Madsen drove left on the second playoff hole and hit her second from an awkward stance near the cart part into the greenside water.

Thitikul shot an 8-under 64, making nine birdies and a bogey to post at 16-under 272 at Aviara Golf Club in the final event before the first major of the season next week at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage.

Atthaya Thitikul, of Thailand, hits her tee shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the JTBC LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP PhotoDenis Poroy)

Koerstz Madsen, three strokes ahead of Na Rin An and and six in front of Thitikul entering the round, had a 70. She took the lead with a birdie on the par-5 17th, then bogeyed 18 to fall into the playoff.

An was third at 15 under after a 68.

Top-ranked Jin Young Ko (68) was 14 under with Pajaree Anannarukarn (68) and Maude-Aimee Leblanc (68). Coming off a victory three weeks ago in Singapore, Ko extended her tour record for consecutive sub-par rounds to 34. She’s won six of her last 11 tournaments.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen hits her tee shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the JTBC LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP PhotoDenis Poroy)

Pajaree Anannarukarn, of Thailand, hits her tee shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the JTBC LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP PhotoDenis Poroy)

Jin Young Ko, of South Korea, hits her tee shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the JTBC LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP PhotoDenis Poroy)

Charley Hull, of England, hits her tee shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the JTBC LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP PhotoDenis Poroy)

Jin Young Ko had five back-nine birdies in a 7-under 64 at demanding Wilshire Country Club for a share of the second-round lead Friday with Nasa Hataoka in the DIO Implant LA Open.

Five strokes behind first-round leader Alison Lee after a 71, the top-ranked Ko moved into position for her second victory of the season in the first of two straight LPGA Tour events in the Los Angeles area.

“My putting was so good today,” Ko said. “I wasn’t expecting to play really well today because in the afternoon it’s always hard to play this course. But my putting was good, so I’m happy with it.”

Jin Young Ko waves to fans after sinking a putt on the first green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

Hataoka birdied her final three holes for a 68 to match Ko at 7 under. Eighteen players were unable to finish the round because of darkness.

After dropping a stroke on the par-4 ninth, Ko birdied Nos. 11-14 and added her eighth birdie of the day on the par-4 17th.

“I didn’t think I played 5 under on the back nine,” Ko said. “I didn’t know that. I was in the zone.”

Jin Young Ko tees off at the second tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

The 26-year-old South Korean star won in Singapore early last month for her 13th LPGA Tour title. She won five times last year.

“I have two more rounds and nobody knows how it goes,” Ko said. “So working hard and focus on it and go get it”

Hataoka had seven birdies and four bogeys. The 23-year-old from Japan has five LPGA Tour victories, winning twice last season.

Nasa Hataoka tees off at the 17th tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

“The wind was pretty strong,” Hayaoka said. “The greens are pretty tight, narrow. So my plan was to hit the green, not try to be too aggressive. On the back nine, the wind kind of got weaker, so I was able to hit at the pin.”

Hannah Green was third at 5 under after a bogey-free 67. The Australian won her two LPGA Tour titles in 2019.

“I’m very pleased,” Green said. “I guess today’s round kind of felt like even more under par than what it was. I was pretty solid with my putting all day today which was nice because yesterday I had a couple three-putts.”

Nasa Hataoka, right, fist bumps her caddie, after sinking a shot on the 17th green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

Fellow Australian Minjee Lee, the 2019 winner, had a 68 to match Haeji Kang (69) at 4 under. Inbee Park (67) topped the group at 3 under.

“You’ve got to really be careful how you play the holes — and you can’t get too greedy,” Park said. “Even though the course is short, it’s just really tough.”

Lee was 2 under, following her opening 66 with a 74.

Maddie Szeryk hits from the sand on to the first green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

Defending champion Brooke Henderson, playing alongside Ko, shot 76-72 to miss the cut.

The Palos Verdes Championship is next week.

Inbee Park tees off at the fifth tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)