Liu continues Zhuhai Classic reign with playoff win

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Babe Liu successfully retained her Zhuhai Classic crown on Saturday when the rising Chinese Taipei star beat China's Zhang Weiwei in a first-hole playoff in the opening tournament of the 2015 China LPGA Tour season.

Babe Liu beats Zhang Weiwei in a first-hole playoff in the opening tournament of the 2015 China LPGA Tour season on Saturday, March 28, 2015. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

Both players finished 54-holes of regulation play at Zhuhai Orient Golf Course at seven-under 209 as Liu closed with a 69 to Zhang's 71 in the RMB500,000 tournament in Guangdong province.

In the extra session, Liu found the back of the green at the 18th hole on her second shot to set up an easy par. National team member Zhang, the first-round leader, however, hit into water with a pitching wedge on her approach for a double-bogey six.

The victory for Liu, a 22-year-old from Taoyuan who won twice on the China LPGA Tour last year, was worth RMB75,000. The win came after a round that included three birdies, two bogeys and eagle three at the ninth hole when she chipped in from 90 yards.

"I could have avoided a playoff and won directly as I missed a very short (three foot) par putt at the 16th hole," said Liu. "But I'm not afraid of a playoff. I'm more experienced than Zhang Weiwei, even though she's a great player. This is a great start for the new season and a great step forward to my goal of winning five times this year to improve my world ranking and qualify for the Olympics."

Zhang, who carded five birdies and a double bogey on her opening nine holes to get to nine-under at the turn, lamented her playoff mistake that cost her the chance of winning her first tournament as a professional.

"I don't know why I hit such a bad shot in the playoff," said the 18-year-old from Hainan Island. "But I played well today. It proved that I am good enough to win. This is my first time to contend for the lead. I think there must be a second time and a third time. I believe next time in the same position I could be better."

South Korea's Chung Ye-na (71) finished the tournament in third, a shot back of the leaders, while China's Shi Yuting (74) and Thailand's Ajira Nualraksa (69) were equal fourth, two shots off the pace.

Overnight leader Shi quickly saw her chances of winning her first pro tournament disappear when she bogeyed the par-four opening hole and then double-bogeyed the par-three third.

"I'm a little bit disappointed," said the 17-year-old Beijinger. "The first three holes I wasn't nervous, even though I was three-over. I still thought I had a good mental game after that and tried my best and didn't lose my confidence."

Supamas Sangchan made a hole-in-one with a seven-iron at the 153-yard eighth hole. Her perfect shot earned the Thai RMB4,000.

China's Zhang Yunjie (72) finished as the top amateur as the Haikou teenager was one-under 215.

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