China’s Yin Ruoning has ‘goosebumps’ as she romps to LPGA win in Shanghai
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Yin Ruoning of China hits a tee shot in the final round of the Shanghai LPGA golf tournament on Oct 13, 2024. She romped to a six-shot win.
PHOTO: AFP
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SHANGHAI – Yin Ruoning said she had “goosebumps” after six birdies on the back nine in a spectacular final round of 64 on Oct 13 gave her a six-stroke victory at the LPGA Shanghai, her first tour win at home in China.
The Shanghai native and former world No. 1 finished on 25-under 263, roared all the way by her hometown crowd, having begun the day one stroke behind Japan’s Mao Saigo.
Saigo’s one-under 71 left her sharing second place on 19 under with Kim Sei-young of South Korea, who had a four-under 68. Kim had led for the first two rounds after carding 62 and 70 to set the 36-hole LPGA scoring record.
“It’s amazing to be able to win at home,” said Chinese No. 1 Yin, following a victory romp over the closing nine holes that thrilled her legion of fans in her home city.
“The crowd is amazing, people shouting my name and rooting for me,” added Yin, who said she was looking to see her mother but could not spot her among the large galleries.
“This tournament really, really means a lot to me and I’m just so happy I’m able to win,” she said.
At just 22, Yin now has four LPGA Tour wins including one Major – the 2023 Women’s PGA Championship.
Asked what comes next, she said: “We’ll see.
“Let me finish today and just have fun with my mum, and we’ll think about it later.”
Fourth was Yealimi Noh of the United States, whose final-round 67 left her seven strokes adrift of Yin.
“My best finish of the year, so it’s been really nice,” said Noh, describing it as a “solid week”.
“I just hit it really well which was really surprising and I was grateful... because I had some back problems coming into the week,” she added.
World No. 4 Yin immediately wiped out Saigo’s lead at the start of the round, carding a birdie on the first.
She nudged in front with another on the fifth before her back-nine birdie barrage.
The Shanghai sensation was met with a champagne shower and a roar from the packed crowds around the 18th as a final birdie sealed the win.
“It gives me goosebumps when I think about it right now,” Yin told reporters.
“I mean, all the fans, the energy, it’s just phenomenal.”
In men’s golf, Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan swept to a brilliant victory at the Macau Open on Oct 13 for his first Asian Tour title in seven years.
The 29-year-old fired a four-under 66 at the Macau Golf and Country Club to finish on 20-under 260, two strokes clear of Gunn Charoenkul (67).
Poosit Supupramai (64) made it a Thai clean sweep of the top three on 16 under.
One stroke back in joint-fourth was Asian Tour Order of Merit leader John Catlin (65), the American who won the International Series Macau on the same course in March.
Filipino Miguel Tabuena was on the same mark as he celebrated his 30th birthday on Oct 13 by making an eagle three at the final hole for a spectacular round of 63.
“I’m so happy,” said Rattanon, whose only previous Asian Tour win came at the Thailand Open in 2017.
“I didn’t think I could win again, because I had a very tough year in 2019. I played really badly that year but I told myself to not give up, that’s why I could improve my game and win again.”
It was another near miss for Gunn, who recorded his fourth second-place finish on the Asian Tour.
“This is great. It’s another second place, not a win but I am fine with it,” said the 32-year-old.
Singapore’s Koh Deng Shan (72, 70) and Mardan Mamat (69, 73) both missed the cut by two shots.
Defending champion Min Woo Lee from Australia signed off with a 66 to tie for ninth on 11 under, while 2023 British Open champion Brian Harman (69) of the United States, was a stroke further back in a share of 13th. AFP
