Feng captures Volvik crown, Ariya fails to reach No.1
ANN ARBOR: China’s Feng Shanshan survived two late bogeys to post her first LPGA victory of the season on Sunday in the Volvik Championship in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Lydia Ko skipped this event but remains No.1 in the world rankings.
No.2 Ryu So-Yeon of South Korea and No.3 Ariya Jutanugarn from Thailand each could have displaced her, but Ryu (72) finished tied for 56th and Ariya (71), the defending champion at this event, was tied for 21st.
Feng, of Guangzhou, had six birdies before bogeys at 16 and 18 en route to a four-under 68, good enough for a 19-underpar total of 269 and a one-stroke lead over Australia’s Minjee Lee and South Korean Park Sung-Hyun.
“I was trying to win the tournament since the start today and I’m glad that I did it,” said Feng, who earned US$195,000 in prize money.
“I’m really happy to have this win because I’ve had six wins on the LPGA so far but only two in the United States.”
Feng said she got a boost from the Chinese fans in the gallery who came out to cheer her on to victory.
“So I’m really happy that I’m not only playing well in Asia but also in the US, and very glad that a lot of the Chinese came today to support me,” she said.
The 27-year-old Feng’s victory was her seventh LPGA triumph and her first since
last year’s Japan Classic — one of two titles she claimed in 2016. She is also a two-time winner of the Sime Darby in Malaysia.
Feng, who earned a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics last year, was up by four strokes with four to play before her late difficulties.
The world’s seventh ranked player has renewed confidence in her game as she posted four sub-70 rounds this week.
Lee applied the pressure with her eighth birdie of the day at 17 en route to a seven-under 65 and Park closed with a six-under 66.
South Korean Lee Jeong-Eun carded a final-round 67 to share fourth place on 271 with American Lizette Salas, who signed for a 69.
Minjee Lee lost her chance at a birdie on No.18 when her approach missed the mark. She did manage to save par and preserve her bogey-free round.
LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES
(par-72, USA unless noted)
269 — Feng Shanshan (CHN) 68-67-66-68
270 — Minjee Lee (AUS) 68-66-71-65, Park Sung-Hyun (KOR) 67-65-72-66
271 — Lizette Salas 70-65-67-69, Lee Jeong-Eun (KOR) 68-68-68-67
272 — Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 69-69-69-65, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 67-67-69-69
Selected scores
277 — Brooke Henderson (CAN) 71-66-72-68, Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 72-66-68-71