Angel Yin defeated Lilia Vu on the opening playoff hole to win the LPGA Shanghai tournament on Sunday; the 25-year-old claimed victory at the par-four 18th after Vu had narrowly missed her 20-foot birdie putt
Sunday 15 October 2023 11:06, UK
American Solheim Cup player Angel Yin defeated top-ranked Lilia Vu on the first playoff hole to win the LPGA Shanghai tournament on Sunday for her first tour success.
The pair finished on 14-under at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club course, forcing a playoff, but the 25-year-old claimed victory at the opening hole after Vu had narrowly missed her 20-foot birdie putt.
It was Yin's first victory in 159 starts and she shared a warm embrace with compatriot Vu on her breakthrough win.
Yin was tied with Maja Stark for the overnight lead at 12 under and on Sunday shot a 70, with three birdies and a lone bogey on the sixth.
Vu shot a four-under 68, with six birdies and two bogeys, and was the clubhouse leader at 14-under, until Yin birdied the par-five 17th and then made par on the final hole to force a playoff.
Five players finished in a tie for third at 13 under: South Korea's Choi Hye-jin who shot a 64, Thai pair Pavarisa Yoktuan (70) and Ariya Jutanugarn (69), Yu Liu (68) and Esther Henseleit (68).
After a promising start, Maja Stark had a frustrating day as she made an even-par round to finish in a tie for eighth on 12 under.
Meanwhile, two-time defending champion Danielle Kang of the United States shot 71 to finish five strokes back in a tie for 17th at nine under.
The event, the LPGA's first return to China since 2019 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is the start of a four-tournament Asia swing, with later stops in South Korea, Malaysia and Japan.
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