>>Sanya: Thailand's Supamas Sangchan came from two strokes back to capture her first Ladies European Tour trophy at the Sanya Ladies Open in China yesterday.
The 20-year-old second-year China LPGA Tour player from Bangkok fired a final-round 68 to finish with a 54-hole total of eight-under-par 208 and edge Sweden's Caroline Hedwall by a shot.
Amelia Lewis of the US was tied for third place with China's Shi Yuting on 210 and rookie professional Olivia Cowan of Germany finished two strokes further behind in fourth.
Supamas held firm in the strong breeze, gusting at 35 miles per hour, to register her second professional victory, following her maiden win on the Thai LPGA last year.
"I'm very happy with my score today. I had a lucky shot on the ninth. The third shot went in the hole and I got an eagle," said Supamas, who took home €45,000 (approximately 1.8 million baht) in prize money.
At the 525-yard par-five ninth, she holed her approach shot from 50 yards using a 60-degree wedge, having almost achieved the same feat from 63 yards for eagle using a 56-degree wedge in the first round.
With her eagle, she caught early front-runner Hedwall at seven under at the turn.
Although Hedwall raced three ahead after 12 holes, Supamas tied her at eight under after 16 holes.
Hedwall then dropped a shot on the treacherous par-four 17th, flanked by trees to the left and a lake to the right.
She had to chip out to the fairway and left her par putt on the lip of the hole.
Needing a birdie at the last to force a play-off, her putt from 20 feet ended just right of the hole.
"It was really tough today and I played awesome on the front nine and could have been a couple more under," Hedwall said.
"On the back nine I just didn't have the margins on my side and struggled with the tee shot on 17. I had a decent par chance and it stopped on the edge of the hole and I didn't make the birdie putt on 18.
"It was hard from the rough and I played a decent shot but it released a little too much. You need a little luck to make a putt like that."
Supamas wore a black ribbon on her cap throughout the tournament and said that she wanted to bring the trophy home to honour His Majesty the King who passed away on Oct 13.