Lee Min (李旻) completed her third straight round in the 60s, carding a final round 67 and cruising to her fourth TLPGA Tour title at the NT$3 million Party Golfers Ladies Open.
Her winning total of 15-under 201 was five shots lower than Hou Yu-Sang (侯羽桑), who received the low-amateur honor. The younger of the Hou sister, Yu-Chiang (侯羽薔) regrouped after a disappointing even-par 72 yesterday to register a final-round 69 and wrapped up at 9-under par and T3 with Lu Hsin-Yu (盧昕妤).
Carrying a 1-shot advantage into Friday, Lee Min solidified her lead by opening the round with a birdie. While playing partners Hou Yu-Sang and Lu Hsin-Yu dropped shots early on, Lee Min used another birdie on the fifth to extend the lead to four shots at 12-under.
Lee continued to dominate the game after the turn, adding three birdies to the score card to make it to 15-under. She was never in danger of losing her position. In fact, Lee remained bogey-free in all 54 holes this week.
“I was the 36-hole leader at the Wistron Ladies Open, too. But I ended up only in a tie for ninth,” Lee said. “I’m glad that that I turned that fate around. I was super nervous, though. I was trying not to look at the leaderboard so that I could better focus on my own game.”
“It’s been a tough year with the virus. I get to stay in Taiwan longer than usual,” the LPGA Tour member said. “It’s not bad! It feels like a longer off-season. I could really be working on a lot of details about my techniques. I’m feeling very grounded and comfortable at the moment.” Lee boasts three previous TLPGA Tour victories that include wins at 2016 Royal & TLPGA Open, 2017 Hitachi Ladies Classic, and 2019 Taiwan Mobile Open.
Both Hou Yu-Sang and Lu went to their 54th tee on 9-under. However, Hou delivered a perfectly-measured pitch on her third attempt to create an easy birdie chance, which went in. With this timely birdie, Hou beat Lu and young sister Yu-Chiang, who returned to the clubhouse earlier, to emerge as the solo second as well as the low amateur.
“I haven’t been playing at a high level since the Tour resumed. This week, I’m finally getting some feel back. 10-under is not bad, but Min was too good,” said Hou Yu-Sang. “I was trying to push myself harder in the last few holes, hoping to get that low-amateur award.” Her effort was finally converted on the 18th.
Sixteen players completed the week in red figures, each winning off a bonus NT$100,000 cash prize presented by title-sponsor Party Golfers, an amateur golf team comprised of local entrepreneurs, who share a strong passion and social responsibility to promote and develop the golf sport.
Chen Meng-Chu (陳孟竺) was one of them, and she earned her prize in style. Chen was 4-over coming into Friday, but stayed “very motivated” in the final round and eventually she used a 5-under 67 to narrowly crossed the line. “Even if I failed to finish under-par, I was really happy with the level I displayed. It’s been a while since I had a 67 last time.”
Babe Liu (劉嬿) made her second ace this season on the 4th hole in the second round. Although no hole-in-one prize was arranged on the 4th, the Party Golfers offered a NT$50,000 check today to celebrate Liu’s achievement. |