NINGBO, China, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Ren Yijia captured the fourth CLPG Tour title of her young career on Friday as the Dalian teenager went wire-to-wire for a one-stroke victory at the Orient Ningbo Challenge.
In a final-round, see-saw battle with playing partner Shi Yuli (70), the 16-year-old Ren closed with a two-under 70 for a winning score of five-under 211. As the leading professional at one stroke back, Shi claimed the RMB144,000 winner's purse.
With the temperature warming to 11 degrees centigrade after bitterly cold conditions during the first two rounds at Orient (Ningbo) Sports Resort Club, Wang Zixuan, last year's Order of Merit winner, closed with a 68 to finish third four shots off the pace.
Kan Bunnabodee was the top overseas player as the Thai carded a 67 to finish equal fourth with Yin Xiaowen (70) at five shots back.
Ren, who held a one-shot lead after the first and second rounds, breathed a visible sigh of relief after sinking her final putt. With Shi safely on the green in two and needing to hole a 15-foot birdie putt to force a playoff, Ren blasted her long birdie putt from the edge of the green 12 feet past the hole. After Shi narrowly missed her birdie attempt, Ren confidently holed her putt for the win.
"I'm very pleased with that final putt because I knew then that I wouldn't have to go into a playoff," said Ren who becomes the first amateur to win four times on the CLPG Tour.
"There were ups and downs during the round. Shi Yuli briefly overtook me at one point, but I managed my mindset well because I felt confident that I had already secured the low amateur award. In the end, winning this trophy made me extremely thrilled and excited."
Next month, Ren will travel to New Zealand where she will be part of the China team competing in the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific championship at Royal Wellington.
"What's special is that this tournament is the major championship for amateurs in the Asia-Pacific region. If I win, I'll earn entry into several major tournaments. I've already planned to turn professional late this year, but if I win I might wait a little longer."
Shi, who won the CLPG Tour Championship last month for her maiden title, was even with Ren atop the leaderboard through 13 holes but stumbled down the stretch with bogeys at holes 14 and 16 before a birdie at the 17th to get close.
"I feel extremely regretful about this runner-up because I was just one stroke short. I truly don't know how to express my disappointment," said the 23-year-old Beijinger who fought back tears after missing her birdie putt on the final hole. "However, for my first competition of the year, I feel my form is solid. I'm looking forward to the year ahead with great anticipation."
Kan, who is in her third season on the CLPG Tour after a standout college career at Purdue University, put together her best round of the week with seven birdies, including four consecutively from the sixth hole, and two bogeys.
"I'm happy because this week was very cold and challenging. I just wanted to play better than yesterday and it turned out even better than I thought," said the Chonburi native who was third at the Guangdong Women's Open in August. ■
