Orlando, United States: In a field stacked with Symetra Tour players and recently minted professional players from big college programmes, Liu Siyun held off fellow-Chinese Du Mohan to claim top honours at the Rio Pinar Orlando Women’s Championship.

Former Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) contestants Du (71-70-68, 209) and Liu (70-68-69, 207) were the only players to post all three rounds below par in the second event in the 2022 Winter Series of the new East Coast Women’s Professional Golf Tour (ECWPGT).

American Hailey Davidson, who shared the lead with Liu and Du at the turn with all three players at six-under, finished third, firing a closing 71.

It was Liu who stayed steady on the back nine, including a full swing six-iron punch hook through a three-foot gap in the trees to pin high after pulling her driver off the tee on 18. She followed up with a delicate pitch to two feet to tap in and save par.

Liu, who graduated from Wake Forest University in 2021 as an All-ACC Team member and a WGCA All American Scholar, earned a cheque for US$10,000, a significant start to her professional career.

This was a first professional win for Liu, who entered the tournament at the last minute having learned about it from a friend by email. She was originally signed up for the LPGA Monday Qualifier as an alternate, but didn’t get in. “I really appreciate the opportunity here. I’ve been practicing at school and going through some swing changes. Today was my first bogey-free round in a long time. It’s been so fun and awesome out here and this course was tough. The greens were so fast.”

During her amateur career, Liu finished joint 28th in the 2019 WAAP in Japan. The previous year, Du shared 37th spot in the inaugural edition of the WAAP in Singapore. Du was also a three-time China representative in the Asia-Pacific Women’s Amateur Team Championship for the Queen Sirikit Cup (2015-17).

In response to Liu’s shot on the 18th to save par and clinch her victory, head ECWPGT rules official Brian Decker said: “I’ve been officiating at every level for more than 30 years, and I have never, ever seen a shot like that on 18. These players are so talented. It’s been really fun to watch.”

Launched in late December, the East Coast Women’s Professional Golf Tour was hosting its second tournament in as many weeks.

Fifty rising star professionals, including top Symetra Tour players, recent college graduates and other professional players in pursuit of women’s golf highest level, are playing for a US$25,000 purse.

Rio Pinar Country Club has been home to many LPGA and PGA Tour events, including the Florida Citrus Open in the mid-1970s which featured the like of Jack Nicklaus, Hale Irwin, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino.

The club recently underwent a US$3 million renovation to its golf course and clubhouse and was excited to be hosting its first professional women’s tournament since doing so.

Said Director of Golf Cole Hinson: “We’re doing a photo shoot with Siyun right now so we can get it hung on the wall here with the rest of these great champions. It was energising to have these ladies here, and we can’t wait to have them back.”

The ECWPT is a mission-driven developmental professional tour creating more and better playing opportunities for women pursuing their LPGA dreams.