Disaster over the final holes has cost Kiwi Lydia Ko a shot at back-to-back tournament wins at LPGA Thailand.
After closing within three strokes of the lead, the world No.1 recorded a double-bogey five on the par-three 16th, followed by a bogey on the par-four 17th, to end her challenge for victory.
Ko, 25, retrieved one of those lost strokes with a birdie at the 18th for a three-under 69, but finished six shots behind American winner Lilia Vu in a tie for sixth.
Her round began flawlessly, with five birdies after 15 holes, but Ko's tee shot on the 16th went into a greenside bunker, her sandwedge overshot the green and a short approach shot left her two putts to finish.
Vu roared home with an eight-under 64, overhauling overnight leader Natthakritta Vongtaveelap of Thailand to finish a shot clear for her maiden LPGA victory. Ko finished in a fourway tie with Ireland's Leona Maguire, Korean Jin Young Ko and American Nelly Korda for sixth.
She opened her 2023 season with victory at the Saudi Ladies International, after marrying Chung Jun in December.
