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Shots of brilliance called forth reminiscences of the great champion. Despite some lapses toward the end, Yani Tseng (曾雅妮) became the second player after Teresa Lu (盧曉晴) to capture a record three wins at the TAIFONG Ladies Open, as she walked away with a two-shot victory over 21-year-old compatriot Ruby Pan (潘彥伶) at the Taifong Golf Course on Sunday.
Tseng shot a final round 70 to clinch the come-from-behind victory and an NT$2 million winner prize, making the host not yet to give away the trophy to foreign contenders in the event’s six-year history. It was also the first win she had in almost two years since the LPGA Kia Classic in 2012. Pan fell two-shot short at 1-over 217 after a 73 final Sunday.
The Taiwan native began the day two shots back of second-round leader Titiya Plucksataporn but Plucksataporn bogeyed her second hole to leave just a one-stroke edge. A birdie by Tseng on the fourth hole created a tie atop the leaderboard and from there it was all Tseng.
Tseng rocketed with another five birdies in the next nine holes, appearing to be getting her game back on track which has made her the youngest golfer in history to capture five major championships and dominate the women’s golf at the no.1 ranking for over two years.
A bogey on the par-4 14th slowed her momentum, and although she never picked it up again, as she closed out with another two in the end, Tseng was simply too high up to catch. “I knew I was rushing a little in the end and made some mistakes, but I’m happy with the way I played the rest of the day, especially how my putting held against the nerves,” said the relaxed Tseng, who had her brother as her caddie during the final day.
“I believed I could win. It feels great I was able to stick to my game plan to start this year with a win, which definitely gives me great confidence for the season ahead.” Tseng will play at the upcoming ALPG Tour event, the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters, as her first tournament overseas.
It was an unusual year at the Taifong Golf Course as aces flying on the three-day competition. Except the two from Thailand’s Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai and Taiwan’s Huang Yu-Chen (黃玉珍) in the previous rounds, Thai Pennapa Pulsawath achieved the third ace of the week on the 160-yard Hole 2, before American Tiffany Tavee won the hole-in-one prize of a brand new VOLVO XC60 on the 185-yard 15th, which etched another record in the TLPGA Tour history as the most aces (four) hit in a single tournament.
Plucksataporn shot a final-round 8-over 80 to drop all the way down to a tie for twelfth with scores of 71-72-80 (223). First-round leader “Baby Yani” Lee Min (李旻) carded a 77 to finish in a tie for 8th at 6-over 222. |
