Zhuhai, China: Cao Xinyu gave herself a memorable 18th birthday present when the rookie pro defeated amateur Liu Yujie at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off to secure her maiden China LPGA Tour title in the Golf Liquor Guangdong Women’s Open.

After heavy rain forced the suspension of play for nearly an hour at 11.45 am, both Cao and 14-year-old Liu returned to the Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club composite layout to complete their third round.

Both closed with two-under-par 70s to finish the 54-hole event deadlocked on seven-under 209.

At the first extra hole, both players found the green in regulation at the 401-yard 18th and two-putted for par. 

Returning to the same hole again, Liu pushed her tee shot into the right rough and missed the green with her approach, while Cao struck her second onto the green, 60 feet from the flagstick. From there she putted.

Having pitched on for three, Liu then failed to make a 20-foot putt for a par that would have extended the play-off.  

“I didn’t believe in birthday luck until I made it today,” said Shanghai native Cao who earned RMB60,000 for the win. “It’s a coming-of-age ceremony for me. It’s my maiden win, which boosts my confidence. I believe that I can have good finishes next week in Singapore and Beijing Pine Valley at the end of this month.”

Cao joined the paid ranks this year after posting five top-five finishes against the pros last season as an amateur on the CLPGA Tour. She was a two-time participant in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP), sharing 43rd place in Thailand in 2022 and ending joint 39th in Singapore in 2023.

At Zhuhai Lakewood, Cao was three shots behind playing partner Liu going into the 540-yard 15th hole. It was there that she started a run of three consecutive birdies, highlighted by a 45-foot birdie putt at the 16th.

With the two players even at seven-under going into the final hole of regulation, Cao nearly lost when her approach came up 45 yards short. After her third shot went over the pin, she then made a 25-foot downhill putt to force extra-time. Liu two-putted for par from 45 feet.

“The 18th hole was a beast,” said Cao. “At the second extra hole, I really captured this unreal win. I won plenty of times at junior events but this is different. It’s the toughest win for me.”

Liu, daughter of table-tennis great Liu Guoliang, a two-time gold medallist at the 1996 Olympics, missed another opportunity to get her maiden win against a pro field. Two weeks ago, the teenager was the overnight co-leader going into the final round at the Beijing Women’s Challenge where she finished equal 10th.

Her final round here included four birdies over the first 11 holes and two bogeys.

In her two WAAP appearances, Liu was joint 32nd in 2023 and tied 22nd at Thailand’s Siam Country Club in February. She began the week in 254th place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

“After Beijing, I knew how to play in the final round. I played well today. I can get full marks from the way I played. I made my best efforts, especially in such poor conditions,” said Liu, winner of eight events on the amateur circuit over the past three years.

“I am excited to see my progress. It’s my breakthrough. I also saw my deficiencies in this event, which would be good for my future. Hats off to sister Xinyu. She played well and deserved this win.”

Pakin Kawinpakorn (69) finished third on 211. The Thai needed a birdie on the final hole to join the play-off, but could only manage a bogey.

Her compatriot Dolnapa Zukphokinvanich was two shots further back in fourth after a final round 70.

Fellow Thai Kultida Pramphun, one of the three overnight co-leaders, finished six strokes off the pace in 11th after signing off with a 76.