Thidapa Suwannapura's main focus going into the Marathon Classic was trying to put together four solid rounds that would help her keep her LPGA Tour card.
The 25-year-old Thai golfer doesn't have to worry about that any longer.
Suwannapura picked up her first win on Sunday, closing with a six-under 65 and birdieing the first playoff hole to defeat Brittany Lincicome at Highland Meadows in Ohio.
In the playoff, Suwannapura converted a short birdie putt after Lincicome hit her second shot into a water hazard and scrambled for par.
"I never expect it was going to be today at all. I've just been struggling the whole year," said Suwannapura, whose previous best finish was seventh at the 2014 Kingsmill Championship.
"Finally all my work I've been doing has come out and shown up today. After I knocked that last putt in, it just felt like a dream come true."
With the win,she has an exemption through the 2020 season. She is also the sixth first-time winner on tour this year
Lincicome shot 67. She had a chance to win in regulation, but her birdie putt from about 10 feet did a nearly 360-degree turn around the edge of the cup and stayed out.
Despite having eight career victories, including this season's opener in the Bahamas, the 32-year-old Lincicome said she was extremely nervous standing over that putt.
Third-round leader Brooke Henderson led by two shots after six holes, but struggled the rest of the way. Back-to-back bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes dropped her out of the lead. The 20-year-old Canadian finished with a 2-under 69, one shot out of the playoff.
No Australian players made the cut.
