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| American Lexi Thompson wins the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia title by four strokes at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Sunday. BERNAMA Photo. |
KUALA LUMPUR: American youngster, Lexi Thompson practically ran-away with the fourth edition of the Sime-Darby LPGA Malaysia title with a four-stroke win over China’s Feng Shanshan at the KL Golf and Country Club on Sunday.
She also set the tournament record for the lowest winning score at 19-under-par 265, beating the previous best of 15-under par set by Koreans Park In-bee last year and Choi Na-yeon in 2011.
Thompson, who carded a final round of two-under 69, also improved on her joint 30th finish in her only previous appearance here last year.
Starting the day with a three shot lead, the 18-year old American was in no serious threat and a solid back nine saw her winning the title with rather ease. Thompson virtually wrapped up the title after the 12th hole, bagging three straight birdies from the 10th hole to open a seven-stroke advantage over her closest rival, Shanshan.
The Chinese star, playing in the second last flight, was 11-under going into the final round and a late surge saw her finish with four-under 67 for a total of 15-under 269. But there was no stopping the talented Thompson who has now won two career titles. Her first was the Navistar LPGA Classic in 2011.
More importantly the world no. 21 teenager broke the South Korean dominance of the LPGA Malaysia. For her efforts, she collected US$300,000 and a trophy from the Malaysian Queen, Tuanku Sultanah Hajjah Haminah binti Hamidun.
She had actually started off with a bogey in the second hole but recovered to reel off the three birdies from the 10th to put herself firmly in control of the round. Another birdie in the 16th and a bogey on the 17th completed her scorecard of two-under for the day.
Thompson said it has been a great experience here in Malaysia and is privileged to have won the title this year.
“Just a bunch of happiness for sure, Words cannot describe how I am feeling right now.
“It is like a rerun of my previous win in 2011,” she said.
“This is indeed a big win for me. I have put in so much hard work over the months, improving on my short game in particular ... it just had to pay off.
“I will continue to work hard and try to win as many tournaments as possible. I will have the same attitude going into every tournament,” she added. She admitted that for a while in the front nine, Korean Ilhee might edge closer. But the birdies from the 10th hole were a huge relief that kept her ahead.
“That was big… on the 10th hole. The birdie on the 11th was unexpected …it was a 35 footer. But birdies like this are very important in a tournament, (to get) the momentum and confidence,” she added.
Runner-up Shanshan said it had been a good outing for her especially finishing second. “It as great finish for me. Coming on after the win in Beijing (Reignwood LPGA Classic) last week I feel my game is in good stead. I will now have a short break and will be back with the Japan tournament (Mizuno Classic) next month.
“I had a fairly good start in the final round and there was no pressure since I was not playing with the main flight. I had a late surge with birdie, par and birdie but it was not enough to get near Lexi.
“I am sure her win is good for the tournament here. And it would be nice to see more young American girls coming through to play in this region. I’m sure her win will boost the popularity of the game at home as well,” added Shanshan.
World Number two Suzann Pettersen finished seven strokes off the pace in joint-third place with the tournament’s early pacesetter Lee Ilhee of South Korea at 272. Defending champion In-bee finished in joint 32nd with three other golfers at one-under 283.
The best-placed Malaysian was Michelle Koh, who shot a three-over 74 on the final day to finish at 60th spot with a 10-over 294 total. She was also the best amateur finisher in the field of 72 golfers.
-thestar online.
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