Fatigued Zeng Upstaged by Veteran Pan

Zhuhai, China: Teenage prodigy Zeng Liqi’s bid for an historic China LPGA Tour victory fell short as a player more than twice her age emerged triumphant at the Guowei Centre Plaza Zhuhai Challenge.

Seeking to become the youngest winner in Tour history, 15-year-old Zeng saw her opportunity evaporate early when she four-putted the first green for a double-bogey seven, a blow from which she never fully recovered.

Although she carded a closing 73 at Orient Zhuhai Golf Club, her three-day aggregate of one-under 215 meant Zeng had to settle for fourth place – five shots behind Pan Yanhong, who rolled back the clock to become the oldest winner in China LPGA Tour history.

The 38-year-old Chinese carded two birdies over the last three holes to win by two strokes from 19-year-old Zhao Zhimeng, who posted her best result since turning pro in 2019. Sui Xiang was third.

“I felt exhausted after two events in a row. That might be why I couldn’t focus over some of the first holes and find my rhythm,” said Jiangxi native Zeng, currently 92nd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “My iron play was poor after the turn because I was really tired.”

For Pan there was a mix of delight and relief after clinching her sixth China LPGA Tour title. It ended a winless drought dating back to 2015 and was worth RMB75,000.

“This is a long process of realising a dream. I picked up golf here in Zhuhai,” said Pan who at 38 years, five months and 16 days is three days older than France’s Gwladys Nocera who won the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in 2003.

“I always hoped I could win here and show the golf course that it had done the right thing to invest in me. I couldn’t help myself from crying,” said Pan of her first win since returning to golf in 2019 after taking two years off to have a child.

Over the summer, the former powerlifter undertook an intensive exercise regime where she dropped 10 kilograms to become a shadow of her former self.

“The competition was really intense,” said Pan, whose son and mentor husband were on hand to witness her historic win.