KUALA LUMPUR: China’s Shanshan Feng wrote her name into the record books as she became the first two-time champion of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia title on Sunday.
The Olympic bronze medallist secured a fifth LPGA crown, posting an impressive final round four-under-par 67 to finish at 17-under par overall, maintaining her extraordinary form on East Course of TPC Kuala Lumpur.
Feng started the final round in less than spectacular fashion, with a bogey on the first hole, but remained calm to pick up five birdies along the way to finish three strokes clear of Suzann Pettersen.
“It feels great. My record here is really good over the past four years. I have come in second, first, second, first. I had a fantastic week, every time I come back here, it makes me feel like I’m at home. I’m really relaxed and I love everything, love the food, love the people!” exclaimed Feng.
“I won’t compare any of my wins, but I would say this one is really important for me because my last win on the LPGA was actually two years ago right here. Even though I’ve been winning on both the Ladies European and the China LPGA Tours, I really wanted to win again on the LPGA.”
Asked on why the Parslow & Winter-designed tract suits her game so well, the 27-year-old shared: “I actually don’t know, but normally I’m a pretty good ball-striker. The course has some very tough greens that we have to be more accurate, and I think that’s good for me. And also for somehow, I always read the greens here very well. So this week, I made a lot of putts. Today, I think converted very important birdies on 14 and 15.”
Leading final results (Par-71) >
267 – Feng Shanshan (CHN) 66-70-64-67
270 – Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 66-72-66-66
272 – Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 67-68-67-70, Amy Yang (KOR) 63-69-71-69
273 – Ryu So Yeon (KOR) 72-68-66-67, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 66-70-70-67
274 – Kim Kaufman (USA) 69-70-68-67, Danielle Kang (USA) 67-70-69-68
275 – Paula Creamer (USA) 72-71-64-68, Ciganda Carlota (ESP) 71-67-70-67, Mi Jung Hur (KOR) 70-65-72-68
Pettersen was left wondering what might have been. The Norwegian forced her way up the leaderboard yesterday with a solid third round 66 but a dropped shot on the 16th meant that she was unable to narrow a four-shot gap at the start of the day, despite closing with back-to-back birdies.
“I’ve been playing really good all week. I’ve had some stupid mistakes, probably like everyone else and giving away a lot of shots. Felt like yesterday I gave away a great chance of winning this. I started strong yesterday and today, and seems like I’m going to fall a bit short when I found the water hazard on 15th. But it’s a good week,” said Pettersen.
Overnight leader Anna Nordqvist of Sweden topped the leaderboard on one occasion but a second bogey of the day on the 14th followed by a double bogey on the 18th saw the title slip out of her reach as she finished tied-third at 12-under par alongside South Korea’s Amy Yang.
“I’ve played so well this week. Obviously I did not plan to finish with a double bogey but I was in between clubs on the last hole, and it was kind of gusting out so we were going back and forth. It was a pretty poor decision there so I was obviously disappointed with that,” said the lanky Nordqvist.
“I played really well and had it going, though. I hit a good putt on 12, 14, 15, and a really good one on 17 that didn’t go in. I felt like I did everything I could and didn’t deserve to double the last hole, but it is what it is now.”
