Chengdu, China: Tianjin teenager An Zining is the latest Chinese amateur to savour success on the CLPG Tour.
The 16-year-old fired a stunning closing seven-under 65 to win the inaugural China Golf Women’s Legacy event by two strokes at Poly Chengdu Golf Club in the Sichuan capital.
In so doing, she joins fellow Chinese amateurs Ren Yijia, Zhou Shiyuan and Xu Ying as a winner on the domestic professional circuit in the past 14 months.
An started the last round two shots off the lead at the RMB500,000 CLPG Tour stop, but produced an outstanding performance to finish atop the leaderboard with a 54-hole score of 15-under 201.
Her round included four birdies on the front nine, followed by five straight birdies to start the back nine. She then carded bogeys at the 15th and the last in only her third appearance in a CLPG Tour event.
“My caddie told me I had a three-shot lead when approaching the final green. I was quite surprised at that moment,” said An, a three-time winner on the China amateur circuit last year who began this week in 457th position in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
“I started strong today, felt solid for most of the round. A few slips toward the end but overall it’s a performance I can accept,” she said.
In the tournament that featured 78 professionals and 26 amateurs playing in a dual individual-and-team format, Lin Xin’en (67) claimed the 75,000 winner’s purse for finishing equal runner-up with amateurs Sophie Han Zilin (68), Zhou Shiyuan (68) and Wang Xinyu (67).
Overnight leader Pan Yanhong ended equal ninth, four shots back after faltering down the stretch to a one-under 71.
Lin, a second-year pro from Guangzhou, was thrilled to collect the winner’s purse. Her round included six birdies and one bogey.
“During the last two events, I was still fighting to make the cut and now I’ve earned my second runner-up. This cheque also happens to be the biggest pay-day of my career so far,” said the Shenzhen University student.
“The turning point came after realising I’d been playing too cautiously in the previous two tournaments. This time I put in extra work and honestly assessed where I needed to improve. This is absolutely the ideal outcome.”
Zhou, one of the opening round co-leaders, lamented a missed opportunity to pick up her third CLPG Tour title. Starting the day one shot off the lead, the Chongqing teenager bogeyed the opening hole before settling to make four birdies, three of which came on the back nine.
“I was too steady and not aggressive enough. Just couldn’t make enough birdies. I’m disappointed with my game, especially that second round which really held me back,” she said.
Hong Kong native Han was another disappointed with her final-round performance. The 17-year-old’s card included six birdies and two bogeys.
“On the final hole, for the third straight day, I had 200 yards in and again flew over the green. Really frustrating not to convert those birdie chances,” said Han, also a winner on the CLPG Tour last year.
Thai veteran Onkanok Soisuwan (68) carded a hole-in-one at the 150-yard 16th when her perfect shot with an eight-iron hit the fringe of the green and rolled into the cup. For her fifth lifetime ace, the Bangkok native received a GolfJoy golf simulator valued at RMB299,000.
Winnie Ng (67) also got a hole-in-one, the Malaysian acing the 185-yard third hole, her first in a competition.
In the team event, where the pros partnered with junior amateurs, Team Zhou Shiyuan topped the leaderboard on day three with a two-stroke win on a score of 22-under 194. Amateur Liu Yujie carded a personal best nine-under 63 to lead the foursome featuring fellow amateur Zhou (68) and Thai veterans Prima Thammaraks (68) and Naphatsawan Pabsimma (71).
“This team victory is definitely not my achievement alone. I’m incredibly proud and happy. All four of us played exceptionally well. There’s no way we could’ve reached 22-under otherwise,” said Liu, 129th in the WAGR.
“After finishing one stroke short yesterday, I made slight adjustments to my strategy today. It paid off. I matched my personal best score, which also happens to be my lowest round ever on the China LPG Tour,” added Liu, who represented China at last week’s Queen Sirikit Cup in Japan, alongside Zhou and Xu Ying.
