World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul wins LPGA Shanghai after five-hole play-off for second title of year

SHANGHAI – With a monster eagle putt on the 17th hole, Thai world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul tied for the lead before winning a play-off on the fifth hole to beat Japan’s Minami Katsu to the LPGA Shanghai title on Oct 12.

The 22-year-old Jeeno carded a nine-under 63 to reel in overnight leader Katsu, who shot 65, as the pair both finished on 24-under 264 at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai.

The Thai was four shots behind 43rd-ranked Katsu at one stage but carded three birdies and an eagle from the 14th to pull level with the Japanese, who was seeking her first LPGA Tour win.

Both saw birdie putts to win slide by on the 18th and they returned to that hole three times in the play-off and parred it each time.

It was a second visit to the par-four 10th, their fifth play-off hole, that finally broke the deadlock, with Katsu coming up short on her approach.

Jeeno took advantage by nailing a short iron to four feet and, after Katsu failed to hole her chip from off the green, rolled home the birdie putt for victory.

“Minami, she played really great out there. She crushed it out there Thursday until Sunday,” Jeeno said of her opponent.

“I was trying the best I can, just to catch her,” said Jeeno, after her sixth win on the LPGA Tour and second of the season along with the Mizuho Americas Open.

She became the first player to win multiple times on the LPGA Tour in 2025, which saw her reclaim

the world No. 1 ranking

in August.

The 27-year-old Katsu would have been the sixth different Japanese player to win on the LPGA Tour this year.

“Obviously not winning is kind of disappointing, but really happy how solid I played throughout the week,” she said.

“Definitely a great experience. I’m sure that I’ll have more opportunities like that.”

Australia’s world No. 4 Minjee Lee finished with four birdies in her last five holes to be outright third after a 68 took her to 19 under. AFP