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E-mail Xinhua, May 24, 2024
Ren Yijia wrote her name in the China LPGA history book on Friday when the 14-year-old amateur defeated veteran Pan Yanhong in a second-hole playoff to become the tour's youngest winner.
In a thrilling rain-soaked final round, both players closed with rounds of five-under 67 over the Beijing Orient Pearl layout to finish on nine-under 207. In the first playoff hole at the 499-yard 18th hole, Pan and Ren both made birdie four to remain deadlocked.
Returning to the same hole, 41-year-old Pan, a six-time winner on the CLPGA Tour, found trouble on her second shot when she landed in a greenside bunker. Ren, who was about 32 yards out in the rough, hit her third shot to the green, landing within a few inches of the pin with a 58-degree wedge.
After Pan executed a poor bunker shot that landed about 20 feet from the pin and missed her putt, Ren then tapped in for birdie and the championship.
At 14 years, 10 months and 15 days, Ren becomes the CLPGA's youngest winner, bettering the old mark set by Ni Zixin who won the 2022 Golf Liquor Challenge at 14 years, 11 months and six days.
"Ni Zixin became the youngest winner in Nanshan in 2022 where I made my debut on the CLPGA Tour. I knew she broke the record. At that time, Ni's mother told me that I could be the youngest winner one day. I am proud of myself since I did it today," said Ren who only took up golf five years ago.
"[Pan] She's a great player. In the playoff I just looked at her as another rival and tried my best to beat her. It was a tough battle," added the Dalian teenager.
Pan was nothing but gracious in defeat in her praise for Ren, saying that she lost to a better player.
"My aim was 68 each day. I didn't achieve that for the first two rounds but did more than that today. Ren is a great girl. She hits it long with a great short game," said the Hubei native.
Thailand's Dolnapa Zukphokinvanich finished third at three shots back after closing with a 69, one shot ahead of overnight co-leader Huang Ching (72) of Chinese Taipei and amateur Zhou Shiyuan (68).
Fellow amateur Liu Yujie, the other overnight co-leader, struggled to a 75 to finish equal 10th at seven strokes back.
