Lu Ya-Huei (呂雅惠) ran away with her eighth TLPGA Tour victory at the Party Golfers Ladies Open, closing out with three consecutive birdies to win by three over 18-year-old Lai Yi-Ting (賴怡廷). She also took home a combined NT$1 million check, including a bonus cash prize provided by the Party Golfers for a local Taiwanese winner.

Lu finished at a winning total of 10-under 206. Her final-round 68, after two 69s in previous days, made her become the first woman this year to break 70 in all the rounds.

It is the third official tournament (54-hole or 72-hole) win for the 40-year-old since September in 2012 when she left Japan and back competing on home soil. Her previous tour victory came at the TLPGA South Taiwan Open in November, 2013.

“This is probably the biggest paycheck I’ve won,” said the former TLPGA no.1. “I’m not young anymore. I feel just so proud and blessed to be still competing at this level along with so many youngsters out there, especially after coming through all these injuries.” Hurting her finger again, Lu withdrew from a few tournaments at the start of the season and the Party Golfers Ladies Open is just the seventh event she’s played this year.

Lu became a professional golfer in 1997. In 2004, Lu qualified into the Japan LPGA Tour. However, eight years went by, Lu had never really enjoyed much success and decided to move her focus back on the growing TLPGA Tour. And right away, after her first complete season in 2013, she earned the title as the year-end TLPGA Tour Money Winner and the number 1 position.

“I would like to thank my friend and a great player, too, Tseng Hsiu-Feng (曾秀鳳) who had been giving me amazing support when I was in Japan. Also my deepest thanks the Taifong Golf Course, all the staff and friends there, without you I wouldn’t have travelled this far,” said Lu. “I will be keeping on trying on the Taiwan LPGA tour. Golf is what I love doing and hopefully still a lot of goods to come.”

After a first-round 67, Taiwanese amateur Lai carded her second straight 1-under 71 on Friday, wrapping up at a 7-under 209 and solo second. This is the first time Lai achieves the low-amateur honor.

Starting the day tied at lead, Lai seized the sole top position after making a birdie on the fifth. But her lack of sparks in the putting left her under pressure most of the time as she took 34 putts finally, her worst record in three rounds. “I missed quite some chances on the greens but ‘Teacher Lu’ was just too good there.”

Lu also had nothing but positive words on her young competitor. “She plays some fearless golf. There is some incredible potential in this young girl,” said Lu. “I was just one shot ahead on Hole 15, and I missed the green on my second. Yi-Ting hit a great shot there leaving an 8-foot birdie chance. I thought she was going to make it and we would be even again, but she didn’t, while I was able to save par to keep my advantage. I think that hole built some great confidence for me to close it out.”

Lu then dashed to the victory with three birdies in a row after the 15th from extremely difficult positions. Lai also made one on the 18th but it was just too late.

Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲) (68) and Tsai Pei-Ying (蔡佩穎) (71) finished in a tie for third at 212. Chang Hsuan-Ping (張瑄屏) (72) and Yu Han-Hsuan (余函軒), tied for fifth, held the final score at 213.

This is the second annual Party Golfers Ladies Open, with an international field of 90 players vying for a total purse of NT$3 million. The title sponsor, the Party Golfers, is an amateur golf team comprised of local businessmen, who share the passion for the golf sport and align with the vision of the TLPGA. They collected donation among team members to cover up 80% of the expenses to push the launch of the Party Golfers Ladies Open, in hope of creating a platform for local female golfers to further excel in the game and to help propel them into the Rio Olympics in 2016.