Shanghai, China: Former China Queen Sirikit Cup representative Yin Ruoning claimed her fourth career LPGA Tour victory with a barnstorming finish at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.
Over the weekend at Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Yin was 17-under-par, easing to a six-shot victory.
The Shanghai native earned her second title of the season in dominating fashion, finishing with a 25-under-par 263 total to shatter the 72-hole tournament scoring record set in 2019 by Danielle Kang.
Yin had opened her campaign with rounds of 70 and 66, reaching the half-way mark four shots behind leader Kim Sei-young of Korea, who shot a stunning first round of 10-under 62 and followed up with 70.
The Chinese player then signed for a third round 63 to climb into second spot on 17-under, just one behind 54-hole leader Mao Saigo of Japan (68, 65, 65) with Kim (62, 70, 69) two shots further back.
Playing in front of her hometown crowd in the final round and feeding off their support, Yin made birdie on the first hole to tie Saigo on 18-under. Yin’s only other birdie on the front nine came at the fifth, which pushed her into the sole lead on 19-under heading to the turn.
The back nine was when Yin really caught fire, nailing six birdies including on the last two holes for a closing 64, which proved more than enough to seal the win.
“The first day my tee shots weren’t very good, so I had a call with my coach, Holton Freeman. He was in Los Angeles and he fixed my tee shots. I think this course, especially since I’m feeling good with my iron shots right now, if I can put my ball on the fairway, it’s going to make it easier for myself,” she noted.
“I putted really well, and my approach shots were pretty good. I pieced everything together,” added Yin, the first player from China to win the Buick LPGA Shanghai in its four editions so far.
This is the second straight season that Yin has won multiple times. Earlier this year, she triumphed in the Dow Championship with partner Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul of Thailand, who finished tied fifth in Shanghai on 16-under.
LPGA Tour rookie Saigo shot a closing 71 to settle for joint second on 19-under with Kim, who closed with 68. It was Saigo’s second runner-up and seventh top-10 finish this season.