Gino Titicle makes dramatic comeback to win LPGA Shanghai title after 5-hole playoff | Golf News

Gino Titikul came from behind to win the LPGA Shanghai title.

Titikuru quickly recovered from 4 strokes down with five holes remaining to force a playoff against Minami Katsu, and hit another extraordinary shot on the fifth hole of the playoff to become the first player to win two consecutive LPGA tournaments this season.

Top-ranked Titicle’s 63 was the round of the day that included seven birdies and one eagle. The Thai player’s 24-under 264 closed the gap to Japan’s leader, who had started the day with a two-stroke lead, and by the end of the 13th hole had widened the gap to four strokes.

But the Thai rallied with birdies on the 14th, 15th and 16th, then equalized with an incredible eagle that sent the ball bouncing along the speckled 17th green at Qizhong Huayuan Golf Club in Shanghai.

Katsu, 65, could only respond with a birdie of his own on the 17th hole, but he had another birdie chance on the final hole to regain victory, but the ball slipped through the hole and forced a playoff.

The first four holes of the playoff, which rotated between Nos. 18 and 10, were pars, and Masaru made two birdie putts to win, but both missed the hole by a narrow margin.

On the fifth hole of the playoff, Titicle’s masterful approach put the ball 3 feet out to break the deadlock, but his winning second shot on the par-4 18th missed the green.

Katsu’s birdie chip was impressive but missed, and Titikul made an easy birdie putt to cap off an impressive victory, nearly two years after losing in an epic nine-hole playoff to Celine Boutier at the LPGA Malaysia.

Minjee Lee, who won her third major title at the Women’s PGA Championship in June, shot a 68 on Sunday for a 19-under 269, finishing third after her challenge disappeared midway through the round.