Chongming Island, Shanghai, China: Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong survived a testing final day to claim her maiden China LPGA Tour title at the RMB1 million Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Championship.

With the words of her father uppermost in her mind, the 26-year-old Thai carded a closing even-par 72 at the Lanhai International Golf Club Yangtze Dunes layout to complete a wire-to-wire victory.

Sherman, who hails from Bueng Kan, some 12 to 13 hours northeast of Bangkok, finished the tournament with a 54-hole score of five-under 211.

In so doing, she claimed the RMB150,00 winner’s prize and moved to the top of the China LPGA Tour Order of Merit.

“After the second round I talked to my dad. He was in the temple and I told him to ‘pray for me’ and that if I won I would make the drive back to Bueng Kan. So I’ll have a long drive ahead of me once I get back to Thailand. But I am very happy to get my first win in China,” said Sherman, who played regularly on the US LPGA Tour from 2017-2019.

In strong winds at Lanhai International, fellow Thai Supamas Sangchan (70) finished second, one shot ahead of China’s Shi Yuli (72).

Aunchisa Utama (70) added to the strong Thai showing in finishing equal fourth on 215, alongside Chinese amateur Cao Xinyu (75).