Thidapa beats Lincicome in playoff to win first LPGA title

LOS ANGELES, California: Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura edged two-time major champion Brittany Lincicome in a playoff on Sunday to win her first LPGA title at the Marathon Classic in Ohio.

Thidapa thrust herself into title contention with an eagle-birdie finish at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, carding a final-round 65 for a 14-under par total of 270.

She could only wait and watch for more than an hour as Lincicome and overnight leader Brooke Henderson of Canada tussled for the lead, Lincicome closing with a four-under par 67 for 270 as Henderson settled for a 69 that left her in third place on 271.

“I did not think or expect that 14 (under) would be good enough, because I know there were two par-fives coming in on 17 and 18, and it’s a good opportunity for them to make birdie,” she said.

The 25-year-old, who chipped in for eagle at the par-five 17th then birdied the par-five 18th in regulation, put her tee shot at the first playoff hole — the 18th — in the fairway as Lincicome found a fairway bunker.

Lincicome then blasted into the water hazard, as Thidapa put her third shot five feet from the pin.Lincicome kept the pressure on as best she could, rolling in a six-foot putt to save par, but Thidapa calmly made her birdie putt for a long-awaited first victory.

“I never expected it was going to be today at all,” said Thidapa, a Ladies European Tour winner who had only two prior top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour.With the win, Thidapa earned one of five places on offer in the Women’s British Open.