Orlando, Florida, United States: Liu Yan has followed in the footsteps of fellow-Chinese Liu Siyun in savouring success on the fledgling East Coast Women’s Pro Golf Tour (ECWPGT).

A week after seeing her namesake triumph at the Rio Pinar Orlando Women’s Championship, Liu Yan recorded her maiden win on American soil at the Redtail Women’s Championship.

With a 54-hole aggregate of nine-under 207 at the Redtail Golf Club outside Orlando, Liu Yan finished two strokes ahead of runner-up Kennedy Swann.

Australian Gabi Ruffels, the 2019 US Women’s Amateur champion, shared third place on 210.

“My first American win means a lot. I’m really proud of myself. This Tour and this tournament really help build my confidence so I can know I can make it to the LPGA Tour,” said Liu Yan, whose first professional win came at the Hong Kong Women’s Open in 2019.

Currently ranked 445th on the Rolex Rankings, Liu turned professional in 2019 and had 11 Epson Tour (then-Symetra Tour) starts in 2021.

“Round two was a really rainy day and I just kept my patience and stayed to myself,” said Liu Yan, who collected a cheque for US$10,000.

Tour operator Mark Berman of MediaShare Consulting Group, Inc, said: “We are seeing exactly the goal of the ECWPGT: to create a defined pathway to their highest levels of professional women’s golf and to provide a way for these amazing women to make a living while getting there.

“Seeing players like Yan and Kennedy succeed, to see them develop and learn how to climb professional leaderboards inspires us toward our mission of providing this platform for them.”