Jeeno Thitikul is proving she has the nerves of a champion at the Mizuho Americas Open. The Thai star fired a steady 2-under 70 on Saturday, refusing to make anything worse than par over her final 16 holes to hold onto a two-shot lead at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey.
After opening with a three-stroke advantage, Thitikul saw her lead vanish in a flash. A bogey on the second hole, combined with a blistering start from Hannah Green, erased the gap almost immediately. But instead of panicking, Thitikul dug in, marching through intermittent rain showers and navigating the course's tricky, contoured greens with poise.
The highlight of her round came at the 18th hole, where she got up-and-down with a delicate pitch to save par and finish at 10-under 216. That left her two shots clear of France's Celine Boutier, who carded a 67 to make a late charge.
“It’s a new day and I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Thitikul said. “I’m just going to let golf be golf and stay committed. Another opportunity under my belt in the final round again.”
Green was the first of several contenders to pull within one shot, thanks to a four-hole stretch on the front nine that she played in 4-under, including an eagle on the par-5 eighth. But no one could seize the lead. China's Ruoning Yin also got within one shot before disaster struck on the par-4 15th. After a wayward tee shot, Yin hit a full short iron for her fourth, landing it just 5 feet from the cup. What looked like a bogey save turned into a shocking three-putt for triple bogey. She bounced back with a birdie on the par-3 16th but had to settle for a 68, leaving her tied for fourth at 6-under 210 alongside Green and Allisen Corpuz, who hasn't won since the 2023 U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach.
“Just my brain, not working on this hole,” Yin said. “When I three-putted on 15, I wasn’t angry. I just felt like I still have so many birdie chances coming.”
For Thitikul, the win would be her first LPGA title of the year—and a statement that her cool-headed game is built for Sundays.