Zhangjiagang Island, China: In-form teenager Zeng Liqi is setting her sights on securing a spot on the China team at next year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The 15-year-old continued her remarkable recent run with a runner-up finish in the China LPGA Tour’s Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Challenge.
It was the second event in succession in which Zeng had contended for victory, edged out in a play-off the previous week.
The Nanchang native has now recorded six top-10 finishes against pro fields this year.
Although those performances have seen her rise to 62nd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, her rich vein of form has come too late to earn her a starting spot in next week’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Abu Dhabi.
However, Zeng is happy to look ahead to the many opportunities that lie in front of her.
She said: “I have played a lot of China LPGA events this year and learned a lot from the experience. The plan now is to undertake some intensive training in preparation for next year’s Asian Games (in Hangzhou) and then turn pro.”
At Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Golf Club, Zeng closed with a one-under 71 for a three-day total of 214. That was four strokes behind Zhao Zhimeng, who claimed her maiden China LPGA Tour win in Jiangsu Province.
“I’m very happy to have won my first professional trophy. I turned pro three years ago and this championship is an affirmation of all the hard work I have put in,” said Zhao, who earned RMB75,000 for the win.
The tournament was the last of the China LPGA Tour season in a year that has seen numerous events cancelled or postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
