Beijing, China: Sun Jiaze claimed her second straight China LPGA Tour title when the Guangdong native closed with a one-over 73 to win the Beijing Ladies Challenge by four strokes. 

With conditions sunny and calm in the Chinese capital, Sun finished the 54-hole event at Beijing Orient Pearl Golf Club on one-under 215, the only player in the field to finish in red figures, earning the RMB75,000 winner’s purse.

Cai Danlin (75) and Zeng Liqi (75) were joint runners-up, with Yan Panpan (74) fourth a shot further back. 

Setting out from the 16th hole in a shotgun start with a two-stroke lead, Sun, winner of the CTBC Ladies Classic in September, made a bogey-four at the 176-yard 17th hole. She then carded a birdie four at the 507-yard first to get back to two-under.  

With her playing partners Cai and Zeng also struggling early on, Sun found further trouble with a bogey at the par-four second, followed by a double-bogey six at the 386-yard sixth hole. 

Sitting at one-over, Sun got her game going with a birdie two at the seventh, followed by consecutive birdies starting at the 11th hole to seal the win.   

“I’m glad I did it today. I teed off from the 16th hole, and things didn’t go well at first. After that double-bogey (on six) things began to get better. Struggling, smooth and happy is my description of today,” said the champion. 

With two wins each on both the China LPGA Tour and the CLPG Qualifying circuit this year, in addition to a victory on the Guangdong Tour. Sun said the five titles in 2022 were far beyond her expectations. 

Cai posted her second top-10 finish of the year but was disappointed at her inability to challenge for her maiden title. Her round included five bogeys and birdies on the 12th and 13th holes. 

“My putter and approach shots to the green were not good all day. I missed a one-yard putt for par on my second hole (17th) and I also made mistakes on the green at the next hole. This affected my self-confidence. My overall performance really was a let-down,” said the 19-year-old Hainan native. 

Zeng Yu was the top amateur, the teenager closing with a 78 to finish 10 shots behind Sun’s winning score. 

“This is my first time playing a China LPGA Tour event and I am very proud of myself to finish in a tie for eighth place,” said the 15-year-old Beijinger who was runner-up at the CLPGQ Beijing Pearl Series event last week.