Atthaya Thitikul, known as “Jeeno” on the LPGA leaderboards, is once again leading the race for the lowest scoring average on the LPGA. Thitikul won the Vare Trophy last season without winning on tour, and currently holds a 69.537 average with four events left in the season. In order to win this year, she will need to make the cut at The Annika and play all four rounds at the CME Group Tour Championship to meet the minimum requirement of 70 rounds.
Thitikul missed the first quarter of the season due to a thumb injury and has competed in 62 total rounds this season. Nelly Korda ranks second on the scoring list with a 69.918 average, but won’t compete again until The Annika next month due to a minor neck injury. She will fail to meet the minimum requirement of rounds played, giving Thitikul a strong lead in the race for the Vare Trophy.
Japanese player Hinako Shibuno currently sits in third place with a 70.00 average, followed by Inbee Park, Jin Young Ko, and So Yeon Ryu. Thitikul’s closest competitors, Mone Inami and Ayaka Furue, would need exceptionally low average strokes per round in their remaining starts to surpass her on the leaderboard.
If Thitikul holds on to win the Vare Trophy this year, she will become the 12th player in history to win the award two years in a row. Past winners include legends such as JoAnne Carner, Beth Daniel, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, and Nancy Lopez. Winners of the Vare Trophy also receive a coveted LPGA Hall of Fame point, adding to the prestige of this prestigious award.
Despite facing tough competition from players like Korda, Shibuno, and Ryu, Thitikul’s consistency and strong performance throughout the season have put her in a prime position to defend her title as the lowest scoring average on the LPGA. As she gears up for the final events of the season, all eyes will be on Thitikul to see if she can bring home the Vare Trophy for the second consecutive year.
