Xiyu becomes first Chinese player to win Macalline Women’s China Open
XIAMEN: Lin Xiyu wrote her name into the history books on Sunday when the Guangdong native became the first Chinese mainland player to win the country’s national championship – the Macalline Women’s China Open.
The US LPGA Tour regular closed with a round of even-par 72 for a four-under 284 score and a two stroke win. The victory for the 23-year-old, her seventh China LPGA title and first win since 2015, was worth RMB315,000.
Similar to the history of the US Open where it took 17 years for an American-born player to win the tournament – players from England, Scotland and Jersey won the first 16 years – Lin became the first Chinese mainland winner since the championship debuted in 2006. Players from South Korea dominated the Women’s China Open for the first 11 years, while Lee Min (75) of Chinese Taipei won last year.
“I am so proud that I can win my national Open in my home country, especially as I am only playing a couple of tournaments [in China] a year,” said Lin who is coming off a personal best season in the US where she made 19 of 23 cuts.
“More importantly to myself, the last two years I have been through a really tough time. I lost my LPGA Tour card and my world ranking was probably the lowest ever. This has been a good year but I couldn’t think of a better result than winning a tournament to finish my season.”
Xiamen native Liu Yan finished runner-up for the second consecutive year when she closed with a 71. Feng Shanshan, the world No. 22 and top-ranked player in the field, was two shots further back after shooting 71 and finishing even-par for the tournament.
Guangdong teenager Ren Yue (72) and Thai Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul (75) were equal fourth at five strokes back.
Lin, who goes by the name of ‘Janet’, started the day with a two shot lead and closed with a round that featured four birdies and four bogeys, including one at the last.
“All week, if I put my real Janet hat on, I will say today I am not doing my best and I have so many things to be improving,” said Lin who struggled with her putting throughout the championship.
“My weakness is still pretty obvious, but it’s winning the tournament that counts. It means I can handle it the best on the course no matter what happens. Overall, this is a really big week for me in the way I handle everything.”
Determined not to finish “runner-up again”, the 21-year-old Liu came out strong in front of her home crowd with consecutive birdies starting at the 364-yard first to get to three-under.
She then went bogey-double bogey-bogey over the next three holes to drop to one-over. Four more birdies and a bogey at the last hole followed.
“I had a great start and made two birdies in a row, but that double bogey was bad. It showed that I was inexperienced. Without that double I could have contended with Lin Xiyu. Those two dropped shots gave me a lesson, which might be a great thing for the future,” she said.
Feng also started with consecutive birdies after starting five shots back. The China No. 1, however, could not mount a challenge in finishing with a round that included four birdies and three bogeys. The Guangdong great had nothing but praise for Lin.
“It’s time for us to win the Women’s China Open. Congratulations to Xiyu who did great. It’s not easy for her the past two years but she was really excellent this year. She kept her [LPGA] card and now she has been to the winner’s club again. I think it’s great for Chinese golf.”
Zhang Weiwei won the CLPGA Tour Order of Merit on the strength of a record four wins on the season. The Hubei native closed with a 76 to finish equal 21st at the championship.
“It’s the highest honor on this Tour. I am really happy to earn it. Not easy, absolutely. I put my best efforts for it. I won four times to have this,” said the 22-year-old.
Shanghai teenager Yin Ruoning (73) and Fan Shuangshuang (74) were the top amateurs in equal 12th at nine strokes back.