Xiamen, China: New Zealand teenager Fiona Xu has made an encouraging start to life as a professional, posting a fourth-place finish in the Orient Women’s China Open.

In her debut event among those who play-for-pay, the 19-year-old broke par on all three days at Orient (Xiamen) Golf and Country Club in the China LPGA Tour’s flagship tournament.

Rounds of 69, 70 and a closing five-under-par 67 added up to a 54-hole aggregate of 10-under 206, four stroke behind the triumphant Angelina Ye Lei of China.

Xu, who reached a high of 12th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), received an invite from the China LPGA to play in the event.

The Titirangi Golf Club member chose to relinquish her amateur status after securing her playing rights on the Epson Tour next year following a top-50 finish at the LPGA Tour’s Q-School Stage 2.

She will next head to Indonesia to link up with compatriot Amelia Garvey for the Asia-Pacific Simone Cup at Jakarta’s Pondok Indah Golf Course.

The event has both an individual and team component and is run by the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF). Last year, New Zealand were represented by Lydia Ko and Momoka Kobori. They placed third as a team with Ko finishing third individually.

Xu’s appearance in Indonesia will set the seal on a memorable year during which she was second individually in the Queen Sirikit Cup in the Philippines and joint third in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Singapore.

In August, Xu was a member of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team that was defeated by the European Golf Association in the Solheim Cup-style Patsy Hankins Trophy team match play contest in Spain.

At the end of October, she ended in a share of fourth place in the individual standings at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championships for the Espirito Santo Trophy in Abu Dhabi. That effort helped New Zealand finish in ninth place, its first top-10 showing since 2012.

Xu said: “The most special memory wearing the silver fern was recently at the World Amateur Team Championships. Our team finished in the top-10, which was amazing and was the perfect way to sign off my amateur career. Having Vivian [Lu] and Eunseo [Choi] in the team playing alongside me was really special.”

Among other impressive results for Xu on the international stage were finishing as low amateur at last year’s Australian Women’s Open and this year’s Vic Open and winning the 2022 Australian Women’s Amateur.

Domestically, too, Xu had plenty of success, winning the Christies Floorings Mount Open on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour, the New Zealand Amateur Championship, and several age group titles.

Xu, who moves into phase four of Golf New Zealand’s Talent Development programme and will continue to receive support as she begins her journey into professionalism, said: “I need to say a huge thanks to Golf New Zealand for all the opportunities that I’ve had.

“I’ve had so many special memories and tournaments throughout my amateur career over the last two years which wouldn’t have been possible without their support. I also need to thank my coaches and my home course, Titirangi Golf Club. They’ve supported me a lot this year, which I’m eternally grateful for.”