Solid outing in Lion City keeps Ashley roaring ahead of return to US
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian golfer Ashley Lau will return to the United States on a buoyant note after another solid outing — a top 30 finish at the Singapore Women’s Open.
Ashley made the most of the sponsor’s invitation she received for the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour season opener, wrapping up her campaign with a 71 to finish in a tie for 27th on a five-under 283 total at the Tanah Merah Country Club yesterday.
Kim Jae-hee, who carded a 66 for a 17-under 271 total, won the tournament by one shot from second-placed Bang Shin-sil (67).
It was a commendable finish for Ashley, considering the 108-player tournament featured Thailand’s major winner Patty Tavatankit and 16 out of the top 20 points finishers of the KLPGA Tour last year.
Ashley had a great playing stint in Australia between January and February, clinching the Vic Open title for her maiden professional victory and finishing in the top five in four other WPGA Tour of Australasia events.
“It has been a good week. I think it’s nice to be competing again after my two-week break and just playing alongside a strong field gave me a little insight into what I have to work on,” said Ashley, currently ranked a career best No. 243 in the world.
“The first two days, I got paired up with Shin-sil, and she was playing really well. It was fun for me to watch her game and learn from the experience.”
Ashley, however, felt she could have ended the week in a higher position.
“I just left a lot of putts out there, and I think one thing I’ve learned this week was that the Korean players are more consistent with approach shots.”
She will compete next in the back-to-back IOA Golf Classic (March 15-17) and Atlantic Beach Classic (March 21-23) on the Epson Tour in Florida.
The Epson Tour is the development circuit of the LPGA.