Beijing, China: Xu Ying captured her third CLPG Tour title of the year, and first win as a professional, with a two-shot victory at the Fila Golf Women’s Classic.
The 16-year-old Zhuhai native, who turned professional two weeks ago, closed with a one-under-par 71 at Bayhood No 9 International Golf Club for a 54-hole score of three-under 213. The victory was worth RMB105,000.
China’s Li Jieni finished runner-up after a 73, one stroke ahead of Huang Ching (71) of Chinese Taipei. Tianjin teenager An Zining closed with a 71 to finish low amateur, tied for equal fourth with Chinese pros Shi Yuli (67), Xue Zixuan (72), Sui Xiang (72) and Thailand’s Nanthikarn Raksachat (74), four shots back.
Xu, who was the leading individual player at last month’s World Amateur Team Championship in Singapore, helping China to an equal-fourth placing, its best finish at the Espirito Santo Trophy, started the day tied for the lead with three players.
After picking up a stroke at the 323-yard third hole where she made a 20-foot putt to get to three-under, the lean teenager did just enough in a round featuring three birdies and two bogeys to secure her first win in the paid ranks. Highlights included a 35-foot birdie putt at the 11th and a 55-foot birdie putt at the 13th.
“I played pretty good today, especially with my putting. I sank a lot of long putts, which I’m satisfied about. My drives were also quite steady,” said Xu who also won in Zhuhai and Chongqing earlier this year.
She said ‘maturity, confidence and patience’ were the key words to describe this victory. “Compared to my amateur days or previous tournaments, I feel I’ve become more mature, including from observing top players. I was quite steady in this event and played very patiently – these three words sum it up,” she said.
Li, a second-year pro from Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, started the day as one of the leaders but could not overcome the four bogeys she carded, despite making three birdies over the last five holes, in the hunt for her first pro title. An 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole, a 130-yard par-three, secured her runner-up position.
“I was too tense in the earlier part of the round today. I had set high expectations for myself but couldn’t deliver. Fortunately, I managed to relax later on, so it turned out fine in the end,” said the 23-year-old who graduated from Northwestern University in Illinois last year.
“Playing alongside Xu Ying in the final group, I felt she possesses exactly what I lack. She stayed highly focused and played exceptionally well. Typically, luck tends to favour a player like that. As for me, I struggled to adjust during the front nine, which led to falling quite far behind.”
Huang, who has played on the CLPG Tour since 2016, posted her best result of the year in closing with a round that featured two birdies and a lone bogey to finish on even-par.
“This finish is far beyond my expectations. At the beginning of the week, I felt it would be quite challenging due to the cold weather. I never anticipated achieving such an outcome,” said the 28-year-old, winner of the 2018 Orient Masters Wuhan Challenge.
“I’ve played practice rounds with Xu Ying, but I haven’t been paired with her in a tournament yet. I truly look forward to competing directly against her someday. Seeing her performance, I think she’s incredibly strong and has a very promising future.”
Supamas Sangchan, who led the tournament, or had a share of the lead, through 36 holes, struggled to a final round 82 after a back nine that saw the Thai shoot nine-over par. She finished equal 18th, 11 shots behind Xu.
