Zhuhai, China: Sun Jiaze captured her maiden title in style when the second-year pro went wire-to-wire to win the CTBC Ladies Classic by three strokes. 

The 20-year-old Beijing native closed with a two-under 70 at Lakewood Golf Club for a 54-hole score of seven-under 209. The win was worth RMB52,500. 

Amateur Zhang Yahui, the defending champion, capped off a solid week when the 16-year-old closed with an even-par 72 to finish runner-up. Professionals Xue Zixuan (72) and Zhang Yunjie (73) were equal third, seven strokes off the pace. 

A composite layout was used at the Guangdong Province venue – the front nine of Lakewood’s Xiangshan Course and the back nine of the Norman Course, sculpted by Greg Norman Golf Course Design, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.  

Sun, who was runner-up to amateur Ni Ziqin (72) two weeks ago at the Golf Liquor Challenge in Nanshan, started the day with a one-shot lead ahead of Han Yucen (78) and Zhang Yahui.

With four birdies through the first eight holes, she made the turn at four-under 32 to pull away from the pack. She dropped her only shots of the day with bogeys at the 15 and 18.

“I didn’t expect for a win to come so soon. This is a special birthday present,” said Sun who will turn 21 at the end of the month. 

“At the fourth hole I made a birdie from 20 yards and that proved a particularly key moment. From there, things got better and better. I think I did have luck today. On the back nine, I chose a conservative strategy and achieved the desired results. To tell the truth, as soon as I teed-off I was in a very good state, which was unexpected.”  

Zhang, who won last year’s tournament in a play-off when it was contested as the CTBC Zhuhai Challenge, got to seven-under when she made birdie at the 356-yard 12th. But she found trouble at the 538-yard 13th and ran-up a double-bogey seven to drop out of contention. The teenager finished her Zhuhai defence with a bogey five at the 401-yard last. 

“To be able to defend the title successfully was my goal this week. Every shot I played very aggressively. I knew that if I succeeded in defending the title this year it would be a new CLPGA Tour record,” said the Wuhan native.

“The physical ability has been a very big test this week. Today, the overall performance is not bad, but after shooting two-over on the 13th hole my attention and accuracy began to decline. There will be some regrets this week, but I hope my score will improve every year. I played six-under last year but only four-under this year. This is what I am not satisfied with.”