Zhang savors maiden pro golf win in Hainan

Michelle Zhang Yunxuan celebrates her debut victory on the China LPGA Tour. Photo: Courtesy of China Golf Association

Michelle Zhang Yunxuan gave herself a belated birthday present on Sunday when the rookie pro captured the China Golf Association Ladies Championship by a commanding six strokes in South China's Hainan Province for her maiden win.

Playing on Sandbelt Trails, the No.2 Course at Mission Hills Resort Hainan, the US-based Chinese, who celebrated her 19th birthday on Tuesday, closed with four-under 68 for a 54-hole score of 11-under 205 at the China LPGA Tour event. The victory was worth 120,000 yuan ($16,941).

Zhang is the first player to win her CLPGA Tour debut since Yang Taoli achieved the same feat in 2009.

"I am excited to capture my maiden win in my China LPGA debut. It's a perfect outcome," said the Dallas-based Zhang, a Shenzhen native who moved to the US with her family at age 13. "I watched the leader board all the time. I knew that my partners played very well out of the gate. I felt stressed but didn't panic."

Chen Yu-ju (72) of Taipei finished runner-up, one stroke ahead of Chinese veteran Pan Yanhong (67). Chinese teenager amateurs Ren Yijia (72) and Cao Xinyu (73) finished equal fourth, tied with Thai pros Saraporn Chamchoi (71) and Wannasiri Sirisampant (71) at 10 shots back.

Zhang, who played a year of college golf at Southern Methodist University before turning pro, started the day with a two-stroke lead and didn't pick up a shot until making a birdie at the 372-yard seventh where her approach shot came to rest three feet from the pin.

After three-putting the 11th hole for a bogey, she then made an eagle two at the 13th, when her approach shot found the hole from 125 yards out. Zhang closed out her round with birdies, the 16th hole and the par-five last.

"The 13th hole was the turning point where I had a hole-out eagle. I played solid with my irons in hand but made nothing for a while. I just told myself that I needed to hit to a lot closer and made a birdie. I didn't expect to hole out from the fairway. I believed that this win was mine after that eagle."

Zhang confirmed she would play in the season-ending Women's China Open starting December 12 in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province. "I want another successful finish. After that I will celebrate and not touch my clubs for three days."