Four shots back of lead and with only nine holes to work with, Taiwan’s Teresa Lu (盧曉晴) showed why she is now one of the world’s top 30 women and put up a masterful performance to outshine overnight leader Saranporn Langkulgasettrin, winning the rain-shortened 2016 CTBC Ladies Open by two strokes.
Lu carded a back-nine, bogey-free 5-under 31 with three birdies and one eagle, bringing her total 45-hole score to 11-under and becoming the first local player to capture the CTBC Ladies Open in the tournament’s five-year history. This is Lu’s maiden appearance in the home event.
The CTBC Bank ambassador has now held fifteen victories since she turned professional in 2006, and five on the Taiwan LPGA Tour. The win is worth NT$1 million.
Another record will go down to the history books as this is the very first time a TLPGA Tour event is abbreviated with a nine-hole final round (to 45 holes).
36-hole leader, teen Thai Langkulgasettrin carded a 3-over 39 and wrapped it up solo fourth at 7-under 173.
“I had the worst start possible,” Lu said, referring to when she needed eight shots to finish the par-5 10th on the first day. “I tried to stay positive but it was still tough emotionally, especially knowing you have just nine holes to play and the leader was four shots ahead. I’m glad I finally pulled through.” Players teed up the final round on the 10th hole, where Lu made a triple-bogey on Day 1, and she responded today with an eagle.
“It was a very special, high-pressure week and I picked up lots of great experience,” Lu said. Fellow CTBC Bank player Shi Yuting (石昱婷) shot a 2-under 34, her compatriot and first-round co-leader Yang Taoli (楊濤麗) also finished with a 2-under, and the Chinese duo occupied lone third and second places respectively at 172 and 171. Shi won away a cash prize of NT$325,000 and Yang bagged NT$550,000.
Amateur Hou Yu-Sang (侯雨桑), at 178 (71-70-37), settled in a tie for 18th and is honored the top amateur. Also tied for 18th is Lee Tai-Ling (李黛翎), who holed out on the 16th for her first career ace today using her 4-hybrid from 170 yards.
CTBC Bank’s “best camera face” prize gifts were awarded to Yeh Hsin-Ning (葉欣寧) (T13), Kuo Ai-Chen (郭艾榛) (T48), and Shi.
Heavy rains overnight pushed tee time from 8:40 to 10:00 a.m. Just when the greenskeeping staff tried their best to dry the puddles and have the conditions at the Orient golf course back in shape, the second storm came. The officials made the decision to cut the schedule to half and play was finally resumed at 12:50 with shot-gun starts and “preferred lies” rule in place. |