CRISTIE GRABS CROWN

Former World No 1 beats Shanshan by one shot

THE only thing that stood in the way of Cristie Kerr’s Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia title was a 36feet putt and even that couldn’t stop the 40-year-old from picking up her 20th win on the Tour yesterday.

The American professional admitted she was aware of what was happening around her but just did her best to control what she could, which included her short game, leading her to win the US$1.8 million (RM7.29 million) tournament by one shot from two-time champion, Feng Shanshan.

“I was standing there (on the 18th) and I was like, gotta do it and the only thing I can control is trusting my line, trusting the putt with the speed,” said the two-time major winner yesterday.

“I did and it never left the hole,” said Cristie who recorded rounds of 70-63-6571 to finish her campaign at 15-under-par 269, to collect her second win of the season with the first at the Lotte Championship back in April.

The former World No 1 credited her opponent Shanshan as she came into the tournament knowing the Chinese professional is a force to be reckoned with on the TPC Kuala Lumpur east course.

After three bogey-free rounds, the 28year-old Shanshan picked up two bogeys on her final round but had she birdied the 18th hole, Shanshan would have forced Cristie into a playoff.

Shanshan, ranked No 6 in the world, said luck was not in her favour and she tallied her runner-up finishing to three with the first two in 2013 and 2015.

“I would say I had some bad luck out there. I couldn’t make any putts on the front and then got plugges lies in the bunker and stuff,” said Shanshan, who has seven victories on Tour.

“I think I tried my best. I made two birdies and on the last hole, Cristie held that putt. I was just trying to make that putt but I didn’t make it.”

Shanshan, who is the 2017 Volvik Championship winner, finished tied second with America’s Jacqui Concolino and Danielle Kang.

World No 1 Ryu So-Yeon finished at joint 13th, closing her round on 10-under-par 274 after picking up a double bogey, one bogey and five birdies.

The best Malaysian finisher was amateur golfer Winnie Ng at 64th position when she played to nine-over-par 293.