Natthakritta Vongtaveelap of Thailand has won the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) International Qualifying Tournament (IQT).

Playing in the final fourth round of the KLPGA 2026 IQT held today (August 14) at the Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok South and West Course (par 72) in Bangkok, Thailand, Vongtaveelap shot a 1-under-par 71 to finish at the top with a total of 16-under-par 272.

The IQT serves as a gateway for foreign players to advance to the KLPGA Tour, offering the winner an exemption for the next season's KLPGA regular tour.

Vongtaveelap, the champion, has experience on the U.S. Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour and has recently been competing primarily on the China Tour.

Vongtaveelap shared her thoughts, saying, "I participated in the IQT because I wanted to take on a new challenge by advancing to the Korean stage, and I am truly happy to win. I want to compete in all KLPGA tournaments and perform well."

Godiva Kim of Australia finished in second place at 10-under-par 278, and Da-gyom Yu of the United States placed third at 7-under-par 281.

Players finishing from second to eighth place are exempted from the preliminary rounds of the KLPGA regular tour seeding tournament, while the second- and third-place finishers are also awarded entry tickets to next year's KLPGA Championship.

(Photo provided by KLPGA, Yonhap News)