CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul justified her top billing in emphatic fashion after edging Japan’s Chizzy Iwai by one stroke to capture and claim her home LPGA Thailand tournament for the first time.
Buoyed by raucous home support, the Thai star kept her composure under sweltering conditions and intense pressure to card a closing 4-under-par 68, finishing on 24-under-par 264.
The victory marked her eighth LPGA Tour title and her first triumph on home soil.
“I would rate it A triple-plus," said the 23-year-old. “I know it’s not as big as the majors, but winning in my home country means so much to me — sometimes even more than a major.”
Thitikul became the third Thai winner of the tournament, following Ariya Jutanugarn in 2021 and Patty Tavatanakit in 2024.
The win was made even more special with her mother watching in person after the Thai had made eight previous attempts at the event.
“My mom came up to me after I finished 18 and she cried a lot,” Thitikul said. “I told her I finally won in front of you. She was emotional, and that made me emotional too.”
World No.19 Iwai mounted a strong challenge, drawing level briefly after rolling in her second eagle of the day on the par-5 10th.
However, the Japanese added no further birdies and signed for a 66 to finish runner-up on 23-under-par 265.
Korea’s Kim Hyo joo, the world No.9, posted a 68 to take third at 22-under-par 266, while compatriot Lee Somi, the opening-round leader, finished fourth on 21-under-par 267.
Former world No.1 Lydia Ko carded a 68 to tie for fifth alongside Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who produced the lowest round of the day with a scintillating 63 as both ended the week on 20-under-par 268.
Defending champion Angel Yin shot 70 and was in a tie for 48th at 5-under 283.
The tournament about 125 kilometers (75 miles) east of Bangkok was the first of three events in Asia in consecutive weeks, to be followed by those in Singapore and China in the so-called early Asian swing on the LPGA Tour.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Chisato Iwai of Japan watches her shot on the 8th green during the final round of the LPGA Honda Thailand golf tournament in Pattaya, Thailand Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand watches her shot on the 4th green during the final round of the LPGA Honda Thailand golf tournament in Pattaya, Thailand, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand reacts after putting on the 2nd hole during the final round of the LPGA Honda Thailand golf tournament in Pattaya, Thailand, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Snowflakes fell on a pair of celebratory red-white-and-green Italian flags on Saturday after the men's skicross final at the Olympics.
Freeskiers Simone Deromedis and Federico Tomasoni added to the Olympic host country's medal haul with a 1-2 finish in the Italian Alps on the penultimate day of the Milan Cortina Games.
Deromedis dominated the four-skier final to win gold while Tomasoni needed a photo-finish to claim silver. They both celebrated with Italian flags draped over their shoulders as the snow dropped from the sky.
Deromedis gave Italy its 10th gold medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics, while he and Tomasoni took Italy’s overall haul to 29, which by Saturday afternoon was the third most among all competing nations behind leader Norway and the United States.
“An Olympic medal is the best we can wish for us and our supporters,” the 25-year-old Deromedis said. “We could hear people cheering for us and that helped push us forward. For our legs and our minds, we have been lucky being at home.”
Italy’s freeskiers and snowboarders have done their part by delivering six of those medals in Livigno.
The big air bronze won by Flora Tabanelli on Monday was Italy's first medal in freeskiing since it was introduced to the Winter Olympics at the 1992 Albertville Games. Deromedis has now earned Italy its first freeski gold.
“The freeski sector of the Italian federation has been working a lot, we are putting in solid results and we are super happy with all that investment all paid off,” Deromedis said. "Today was a perfect day. This is the best we could hope for in Livigno.”
The real action was for second and third place. Tomasoni stretched to barely beat Alex Fiva of Switzerland to the finish line.
Tomasoni dedicated his medal to his late girlfriend, Matilde Lorenzi, an Alpine skier who died at 19 after a crash in 2024. He had a sun design on his helmet to honor her.
“Dreams do come true. ... I raced with my heart. Destiny makes you experience certain situations,” Tomasoni said. “I think that few expected two medals because there are so few of us but from now on it is going to be booming.”
Fiva added the bronze medal to his silver from the 2022 Beijing Games. Satoshi Furuno of Japan missed the podium finishing fourth.
Livigno, where freeski and snowboarding events are being held, has ensured that the 2026 Games have a true wintry atmosphere. Snowstorms that have dumped lots of the white stuff on this mountain valley near the Swiss border have caused the reshuffling of events this week.
Saturday’s skicross was held as originally scheduled, but flurries reduced visibility at the top of the course and slowed down the skiers as they negotiated the racetracks' banks, rollers and jumps.
Deromedis, the 2023 world champion, handled the conditions with aplomb. After advancing through the knockout rounds, he took an early lead in the final and stayed well in front of his other three racers to the finish line.
But Fiva, the 40-year-old bronze medalist, called the conditions among the worst he has raced in in his long career.
“It was crazy. The first round was slow and it just got slower and slower,” Fiva said. "I think it was my toughest race ever. My legs were burning after the first round ... I feel my age now.”
Defending champion Ryan Regez was eliminated in the semifinals after he was yellow-carded for impeding another skier.
On Friday, Daniela Maier of Germany won gold in women’s skicross ahead of Swiss freeskier Fanny Smith.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Workers blow snow off the course during the men's ski cross final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Silver medalist Italy's Federico Tomasoni (17) motions to the crowd after the men's ski cross final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
From left, silver medalist Italy's Federico Tomasoni (17), gold medalist Italy's Simone Deromedis (9), and bronze medalist Switzerland's Alex Fiva (11) celebrate after the men's ski cross final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Italy's Simone Deromedis (15) competes during the men's ski cross qualifying at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
From left, silver medalist Italy's Federico Tomasoni (17), gold medalist Italy's Simone Deromedis (9), and bronze medalist Switzerland's Alex Fiva (11) celebrate after the men's ski cross final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Italy's Simone Deromedis (9) celebrates after competing during the men's ski cross final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Italy's Simone Deromedis (9) celebrates after competing during the men's ski cross final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Italy's Simone Deromedis (9) celebrates after competing during the men's ski cross final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
