Yoon Ina came close to her first victory on the LPGA Tour but fell short at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii.
On October 5, Yoon shot a 4-under 68 in the final round at Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, finishing with a total of 18-under 270. She ended up three strokes behind world No. 2, Titiya Kun of Thailand, who finished at 21-under 267.
Yoon, who debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2025 and is now in her second year, aimed for her first win at this tournament but had to settle for her second runner-up finish this season, following the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June.
Starting the final round three strokes behind Titiya Kun, Yoon quickly made a move by scoring four birdies in the first five holes. However, she dropped two strokes with bogeys on the 8th and 14th holes, widening the gap to two strokes.
The competition intensified late in the round. On the 16th hole, Titiya Kun hit her tee shot into the water, resulting in a double bogey, while Yoon made par, allowing her to tie for the lead.
However, a critical mistake occurred on the 17th hole. Yoon's tee shot veered right into a penalty area, costing her a stroke. Meanwhile, Titiya Kun successfully made a birdie putt from about 10 meters, regaining a two-stroke lead. Titiya Kun added another birdie on the 18th hole, securing a three-stroke victory.
This win marked Titiya Kun's fourth of the season and her 11th overall on the LPGA Tour, tying her with Nelly Korda for the most wins this season. The winner's prize was $450,000.
Among Korean players, Kim Ah-rim, the 2024 champion of this event, finished tied for seventh with a total of 14-under 274. Lee Jeong-eun 5 placed tied for 10th at 13-under 275, while Im Jin-hee and Choi Hye-jin both finished tied for 13th at 12-under 276.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.