Zhuhai: Saranporn Langkulgasettrin captured her second title on the China LPGA Tour yesterday when the Thai teenager closed with a dominant eight-under-par 64 performance to win the CLPGA Zhuhai Heritage by six strokes in Guangdong province.
The 17-year-old Phuket native, winner of last month's Wuhan Challenge, finished on 17-under 199 at the Colin Montgomerie-designed Zhuhai Golden Gulf Golf Club to earn RMB30,000.
Chinese amateur He Muni closed with a 68 to finish joint runner-up with Taiwan's Peng Chieh (69). Thailand's Dussavi Soopimjit (65) was fourth at the RMB200,000 event, a new tournament with a low purse designed to give Chinese players and others from around the region more competitive playing opportunities.
Starting the day with a one stroke lead, Saranporn played flawless golf, producing a round featuring six birdies and an eagle two for her 11th win as a professional. Her 17-under 199 score tied the China LPGA Tour record for lowest 54-hole winning score. The feat matched those set by Carlota Ciganda at the 2012 Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open and Park Sung-Hyu at the 2015 Hyundai China Ladies Open.
For Saranporn, her eight-under round was a personal best.
"Compared to the other wins, this is the lowest score I have shot. The whole week I was playing golf the way I expected. My shots, my driver were good and putting was good. I was really confident with my putter. I didn't expect an eight-under score," she said.
Saranporn said she knew victory was hers when holding a three shot lead she made a surprise eagle two at the 338-yard 15th hole where her approach found the cup from 137 yards out against the wind.
"I thought it was over the green as I saw the ball roll and disappear. I thought it rolled off the green but the people at the green were yelling 'In the hole, eagle'."
Peng, playing in her third event since turning professional, never mounted a challenge to Saranporn as her erratic round began with three consecutive bogeys, starting the second hole. She then rebounded to post an eagle three at the 471-yard seventh, five birdies and another bogey on the last hole.
"After three bogeys in a row I just began to play freely. I need to review what I did from the last group. Why could I play stress-free golf out of the gate? My weak point is inconsistency. Hopefully I can play better in contention next time," said the 23-year-old who recently graduated from Mississippi State University.
"For four years in college I didn't play from the final group. I am older than her [Saranporn], but I was really a rookie against her."
He, a freshman at the University of Southern California, put herself in the conversation to be part of the Guangdong team for September's National Games when the 18-year-old impressed in the final group, closing with a bogey-free round featuring four birdies.
The teenager expressed her admiration for Saranporn and her ability to build on her leading score.
"It's not a piece of cake. It shows that she has greater mental game. I was far away from the trophy. However, it's the best finish when I came back home. I am excited now."