For the second consecutive year, an Iwai twin has come in second at the Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course.

Last season, it was Akie who did so, as she fired a final-round 61 to finish runner-up to champion Angel Yin, falling just one stroke short of a playoff with the veteran after posting a four-round total of 27-under in just her second start as an LPGA Tour member.

And this year, it was Akie’s twin sister Chizzy who ultimately found herself in the second position on the leaderboard, finishing just one shot off the pace of Thai native and Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, who triumphed in her home country for the first time on Sunday since joining the LPGA Tour back in 2022.

Chizzy kicked off her week quietly, posting a 3-under 69 on Thursday to sit in a tie for 26th early in Thailand, four shots behind 18-hole co-leaders Nasa Hataoka and Chanettee Wannasaen.

The 23-year-old caught fire in round two, carding a whopping 10 birdies on Friday en route to a stellar 62, what is now Chizzy’s career-low 18-hole score on the LPGA Tour. And it was that performance that vaulted her into a tie for third heading into the weekend. She held steady in that position after carding a bogey-free 68 on Moving Day to sit three shots back of 54-hole leader Thitikul with just 18 holes remaining, well within striking distance of her second career LPGA Tour title.

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Chizzy then gave it all she had playing in the penultimate group in the final round on Sunday, opening with two birdies on the first and second holes to put some early pressure on the world No. 1. A chip-in eagle on the par-5 seventh hole saw Chizzy tie Thitikul at 21-under, a hole out the Japanese native gave a pretty emphatic reaction to as she went to get her ball out of the hole.

She parred eight and nine before rolling in a short eagle putt on the par-5 10th hole to once again tie the Thai superstar with eight holes to play. But after picking up her second eagle in just four holes, Chizzy found herself on the par train for the remainder of the round, ultimately finishing with a 6-under 66 to post the clubhouse lead at 23-under.

And while there was plenty of potential for a playoff to ensue, a Thitikul birdie on 17 saw the just-turned 23-year-old climb to 24-under, one stroke ahead of Chizzy, and all Jeeno then needed was a par on the last to polish off the victory and finish one ahead of Iwai.

“It was good play. Today is 6-under. Not bad, but didn't get win,” Chizzy said. “It can just help my position. It was fun today. I’m proud to be here as Team Honda.”

The second-place showing is Chizzy’s first top 10 on the LPGA Tour since she tied for 10th at the 2025 TOTO Japan Classic in her home country. It’s her first top-three performance since she tied for third at the 2025 Standard Portland Classic, an event her twin Akie won in Portland, Ore., during the sister act’s rookie season, and excluding her first victory at the MEXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba last year, the runner-up result is also her best since joining the Tour in 2025.

Even though Chizzy was, of course, a bit disappointed to not hoist a trophy at the first of what’s a three-week stretch of tournaments in Asia, the sophomore isn’t displeased by any means with what was an excellent week at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

She is just going to take this latest experience in contention as a confidence booster that will propel her charge forward into the rest of the 2026 season, which continues for Chizzy at next week’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.

“I get a lot of confidence (from) that play today,” Chizzy said. “I feel more confidence and then trust my instincts, trust myself. It's going to be fun this season.”

Chizzy Iwai Challenges Thitikul, Finishes Second at Honda LPGA Thailand

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