Chi-young Yun missed out on her first LPGA Tour victory due to a costly tee shot error.

Playing in the final fourth round of the Lotte Championship at Hoakalei Country Club (par 72) in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, on October 5 (KST), Yun finished as the runner-up following a fierce battle with world number two Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand.

Yun shot 4-under par in the final round to finish at 18-under overall, falling three strokes short of Thitikul, who totaled 21-under par (267).

Making her 44th tour appearance after debuting on the LPGA Tour in 2025, Yun sought her maiden title but instead recorded her second runner-up finish of the season following her second-place result at the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

Thitikul captured her 11th career LPGA title and her fourth win of the season, taking home $450,000 (approx. 600 million won) in prize money.

Paired in the same championship group as Thitikul, Yun played what resembled a match-play duel against her.

Starting the day three shots behind Thitikul, Yun mounted a fierce chase by carding five birdies and one bogey on the front nine.

After Thitikul played the front nine bogey-free with three birdies, Yun closed the gap to two strokes and then pressured Thitikul to within one shot with a birdie on the 10th hole (par 4).

The deficit grew back to two strokes after Yun bogeyed the 14th hole (par 4) before both players traded birdies on the 15th hole (par 3).

Yun seized an opportunity to turn the tables on the 16th hole (par 4) when Thitikul hit a wayward shot.

Thitikul's tee shot found a water hazard, resulting in a double bogey, while Yun made par to draw even.

However, Yun committed a crucial tee shot error on the very next hole, the 17th (par 4).

Yun's tee shot veered to the right and landed in a water hazard.

Taking a one-stroke penalty, Yun hit her third shot, but the ball landed next to the green.

Using her putter from off the green, Yun went straight for the hole, but the ball stopped right next to the cup, resulting in a bogey.

On the same hole, Thitikul holed a birdie putt from nearly 10 meters out, widening the gap between them to two strokes.

Thitikul added another birdie on the 18th hole (par 5) to pull three shots ahead of Yun and lift the championship trophy.

Kim A-lim, the winner of this tournament in 2024, entered the title race by notching one eagle and two birdies through the 5th hole, but failed to sustain her momentum after recording consecutive bogeys.

Finishing at 14-under par overall, Kim tied for 7th place.

Lee Jeong-eun, born in 1988, tied for 10th at 13-under par, while Im Jin-hee and Choi Hye-jin wrapped up the tournament tied for 13th at 12-under.

(Photo: Getty Images)