China's Feng Shanshan captured her first win of the year yesterday when the world No. 5 closed with a 2-under-par 70 to cruise to a commanding six-shot win at the US$600,000 Buick Championship.
The Guangdong native finished at 17-under 271 to earn US$82,500 for her 14th professional victory worldwide at the China LPGA Tour-Ladies European Tour co-sponsored event. She pocketed an extra US$15,000 for helping her team win the pro-am competition.
South Korean Kang Hyeon-seo (69) was a distant second at Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club, while Denmark's Nicole Broch Larsen (70) was third, nine shots off Feng's winning mark.
After opening up a six-shot lead through the first two rounds, the 25-year-old Feng played conservative golf in the windy conditions over the weekend. Her final round included six birdies and three bogeys after starting with a double-bogey six on the opening hole.
"I was not actually nervous at all at the first hole. It's just misjudgement about the wind, hit in the bunker and three putts," she said. "Then I got nervous because the gap between me and second place is like from seven to five (shots). So it's a little bit nervous. I think I did pretty well on the last few holes."
Notable scores saw first-round leader Stacey Keating of Australia rebound for a 68 to finish equal fourth 10 shots back, while US LPGA Tour regular Lin Xiyu, the China No. 2, shot an even-par 72 to sit equal 16th. England's Charley Hull, last year's LET order of merit winner, was tied for 18th after a 75, while defending champion Pan Yanhong of China was tied for 27th after a 71.
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