Pattaya, Thailand: When the bitter disappointment of being denied her maiden LPGA Tour victory dissipates, Lin Xiyu will look back with pride on her efforts at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
Despite a brilliant performance at Siam Country Club where she posted a record-breaking 72-hole aggregate, the 26-year-old Chinese was edged out by Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen in a remarkable sudden-death play-off.
Thanks to a birdie-birdie finish for a closing round of 66, Lin ended regulation play on 26-under 262 to match Madsen, who had led by four shots with three holes remaining.
Both players made birdies at the first extra hole of the play-off, Lin agonisingly seeing a brilliant chip for eagle – and victory – come to rest on the lip of the hole, refusing to drop.
Although Lin followed with another birdie at the second extra hole, she was trumped by her opponent who rolled home a 10-footer for a stunning eagle.
While Madsen celebrated becoming the first player from her country to triumph on the LPGA Tour, Lin was unable to hold back the tears.
“Sometimes it's just weird. You shoot 26-under and then cannot win a tournament,” said Lin, a member of the China team that finished third in the Queen Sirikit Cup at India’s Delhi Golf Club in 2011. “But that's the lowest I’ve ever shot in a tournament week. It was four days of very solid golf. I’m going to take a lot from this. I’m very proud of myself.”
Of her eagle attempt from short of the green at the first play-off hole, Lin said: “I just cannot believe that chip didn't go in.”
Madsen was magnanimous in victory. Of Lin, she said: “She really fought. She finished up birdie-birdie, so she played amazing, too.”
On a final day marked by low scores, nobody fared better that Yuka Saso.
The reigning US Women’s Open champion tied the tournament 18-hole scoring record with a 10-under 62. After starting the round tied for 37th, Saso, runner-up at the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) in 2018 and third individually in the Queen Sirikit Cup that year, jumped into a tie for 12th at 19-under overall.
Lin and Saso were not the only ex-Queen Sirikit Cup players to feature at Siam Country Club.
Korean Kim Hyo-joo, a two-time individual winner at the Queen Sirikit, placed joint sixth while Thai Atthaya Thitikul, winner of the individual titles at the WAAP and Queen Sirikit Cup in 2018, shared eighth spot.
Patty Tavatanakit ended equal 19th, while fellow-Thai Rina Tatematsu, the only amateur in the field, was joint 61st.
