Lilia Vu claimed her first major victory at the Chevron Championship on Sunday after winning a playoff against fellow American Angel Yin. The win came after Yin hit her approach shot into the water on the par-5 18th hole, giving Vu the opportunity to capitalize. Although Vu’s putter came up short, she was able to convert from about 10 feet for the win. Vu, who won her second LPGA Tour title, birdied her last two holes for a four-day total of 10-under 278 at Carlton Woods.
Yin, on the other hand, struggled on the back nine with bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes but managed to birdie the 18th to force the playoff. However, it was Vu who triumphed and took home $765,000 from the $5.1 million purse, the largest ever for this event.
Vu played at UCLA but considered quitting the game after a rough start to her pro career. She regrouped and won three times on the developmental Epson Tour in 2021 before having a solid 2022 season, culminating in a victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February. Yin, who turned pro while still in high school, was ranked 172nd in the world, while Vu was ranked 12th.
The Chevron Championship, which was previously known as the Dinah Shore for its longtime celebrity host, had been held in California since 1972, and winners had been jumping into Poppie’s Pond off the 18th green at Mission Hills since 1988. Unable to find a sponsor willing to add to the half-century run at Mission Hills, the tournament moved to the woods of suburban Houston under a six-year deal with Chevron.
Although Vu won, World No. 2 Nelly Korda struggled with her putting and finished alone in third at 9 under. A Lim Kim was also in contention, needing a closing eagle to match Vu, but shanked her second shot and made par. Atthaya Thitikul, who made four straight birdies, was at 10-under standing in the 18th fairway when she hit her third shot into the water, leading to double bogey. Thitikul and Vu finished two shots back alongside Amy Yang, Albane Valenzuela, and Allisen Corpuz.
After multiple rain delays through the first three rounds, play was suspended again for 50 minutes Sunday morning because of thunderstorms in the area. The rain stopped after that, but it remained cloudy and chilly throughout the day with the temperature hovering around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.