Feng wins in Malaysia as Ko fizzles
CHINA’S Feng Shanshan won her second Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia title in three years as a final-round charge from world No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand fizzled yesterday.
Feng, who won in 2014, had stormed into the lead with a seven-under par 64 in a raininterrupted third round that forced her and several others to wait until early yesterday to finish up.
She then started the final round with a bogey on the first hole but regained her footing to finish at 17-under for a three-stroke win over Norway’s Suzann Pettersen at TPC Kuala Lumpur.
With the win, the ebullient Feng ended a two-year title drought.
“It’s really good, especially in the last four years where I finished second, first, second, first here,” she said.
“Even though I only improved one spot, I think I’ve had a fantastic week coming back here. Makes me feel like I’m at home.”
“I really love this golf course. And actually can we have like 10 LPGA events here on this course?”
Feng had finished in the top five in her four previous tournaments leading up to the event.
Ko struggled early in the tournament but jumped into contention after shooting 65 on Saturday. She made a run on Sunday with three birdies on the front nine but her hopes evaporated when she double-bogeyed 15, and later bogeyed the final hole to finish at eightunder with a closing even-par 71.
Ko, 19, hasn’t won since the Marathon Classic in July.
“I think there’s still a lot of positives out there,” said Ko, who used a Malaysian caddie for the tournament after parting ways with her Australian bagman Jason Hamilton earlier this month.
Feng pockets a $270,000 (RM1.13m) prize for the tournament. Anna Nordqvist of Sweden and South Korea’s Amy Yang ended up tied for third at 12-under par. – AFP