Zhuhai, China: Xu Ying out-duelled fellow amateur prodigy Zhou Shiyuan to claim victory at the Golf Liquor Challenge.
Starting the final day with a one-stroke lead, Xu, playing on her home course in Guangdong Province, closed with a three-under 69 for a 54-hole score of 11-under 205. It was the 16-year-old’s second CLPG Tour title.
The 15-year-old Zhou, a three-time winner on the CLPG Tour, shot a 71 on the mountainous Norman Course at Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club. It was her second runner-up finish of the season.
Wang Zixuan was awarded the RMB60,000 winner’s cheque as the Beijing native shot 70 to finish third, five shots back. Eight shots off the pace in fourth was Pang Runzhi after her third straight round of 71.
Playing in the final group under hot and sunny conditions, the towering Xu, 48th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), kept the 34th-ranked Zhou at bay throughout the day in closing with a round featuring four birdies and a bogey at the 394-yard third.
“The highlight was definitely the 42-foot downhill breaking putt on hole 11. That putt got me really excited and pumped up. My home is just 30 minutes from the course. Tonight, I’ll celebrate by having dinner with any friends who haven’t left yet,” said Xu who is set to compete in the US Women’s Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes in Oregon in August.
“For the rest of the year, I aim to maintain my amateur world ranking within the top 50 to qualify for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (in April).”
Zhou, whose round included six birdies, a triple-bogey at the 417-yard fourth and a double-bogey at the 16th hole, said she was not ‘particularly disappointed’ with her finish.
“There are certainly many lessons to be learned,” reasoned the Chongqing teenager. “I didn’t handle some details well enough and lacked patience at crucial moments. Hopefully I can make adjustments next time and achieve better results.”
Wang, who started the day four shots back, finish as the leading pro and keep her place atop the CLPG Tour Order of Merit.
“The prize money is certainly some consolation. I mainly lost this tournament on two holes during the second round (bogey and double bogey). Without those two holes affecting me, I could have entered the final round in a better position with a chance to contend for the title,” said the 17-year-old rookie pro, winner of the Golfjoy Women’s Open in March.
“Today I wasn’t really thinking about winning anymore, because the two players ahead of me were performing exceptionally well. I could only focus on playing my best game and trying to keep up with their pace.”
