Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and Jake Knapp from the United States claimed victory at the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational, a mixed PGA and LPGA Tour event, held in Naples, Florida. The dynamic duo secured the win with an impressive final-round score of 65, finishing the event at 27-under-par.
Final Round Highlights and Winning Performance
In the final round, Tavatanakit and Knapp combined for an eagle and five birdies, playing solid, consistent golf throughout the day. Tavatanakit praised their team chemistry, saying, “I feel like our chemistry was really good, we just talked about random things. It worked really well.” The modified fourball format, where both players tee off and alternate shots, added an exciting twist to the competition, requiring precise teamwork and strategy.
Second-Place Finish for Thitikul and Kim
Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and Korea’s Tom Kim finished second, just one stroke behind the winners, with a solid third-round score of 64. Their strong finish included back-to-back birdies on the final two holes, putting them at 26 under for the tournament. The pair demonstrated their capabilities, but ultimately fell short of the lead by a narrow margin.
Kupcho and Bhatia’s Near Victory
US golfers Jennifer Kupcho and Akshay Bhatia had a close call for the title. They recorded an eagle on the 17th hole, putting them on 26 under, but a bogey on the 18th hole dropped them back to third place, a shot behind Thitikul and Kim. Despite the disappointing finish, their strong performance in the tournament showed their potential.
Other Top Finishers
Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Jason Day from Australia, who won the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational in 2023, carded a 67 in the final round. Their total score of 20 under earned them a respectable position in the top five. Other notable pairs included Nelly Korda and Daniel Berger, who finished at 16 under, and Lexi Thompson with Rickie Fowler, who ended at 13 under.
Conclusion
The Grant Thornton Invitational brought thrilling moments and exciting finishes. Tavatanakit and Knapp’s victory highlighted their excellent partnership, while other teams like Thitikul and Kim demonstrated the competitive nature of the mixed-team format. With this tournament’s success, we can look forward to more mixed PGA and LPGA events in the future.
External Link:
Read more about the Grant Thornton Invitational on BBC
