Xiamen, Fujian Province, China: Ji Yuai captured the China LPGA Tour Order of Merit crown after winning her third title of the year with a dominant performance at the Orient Women’s China Open.

Starting the final round of the 15th national championship in sunny but windy conditions at Orient (Xiamen) Golf and Country Club, the 20-year-old Dalian native closed with a three-under 69 for a nine-shot victory.

It was the largest winning margin in the tournament’s history. Ji finished on 16-under 200 to tie a personal best score for 54 holes. The win was worth RMB75,000.

As a reward for topping the China LPGA Tour money list with earnings of RMB439,846, she also receives a full-time playing card for the LPGA of Korea Tour in 2025.

“I’m very excited and very proud of myself,” said Ji, who also posted wins in Tianjin and Shanghai this season. “This is a big win, it’s the national championship. It’s historic.”

Xu Ying was the top amateur, the 15-year-old closing with a 69 to finish equal runner-up with Pang Runzhi (70). Liu Yan, the LPGA Tour regular, shot 71 to sit two shots further back in equal fourth with Thailand’s Kusuma Meechai (72).

Defending champion Angelina Ye Lei signed off with a 74 to finish 12 strokes off the pace in equal sixth, tied with fellow Chinese Sui Xiang (73) and amateur Wang Zige (72).

Ji, who started the day with a seven-stroke lead, said she thought she could have played the final round better. Her round included five birdies, one bogey and a double-bogey at the par-three fourth where her shot hit a manhole cover and bounced out-of-bounds. At the par-four 11th, she chipped directly into the hole from 15 yards with a 58-degree wedge for birdie.

“Three-under is a good score today. Maybe I didn’t have more energy to play better, I felt a little tired,” said the third-year pro. “At the 11th, I was very lucky because I never chip into the hole like that. That was the first time.”

Pang Runzhi, who had been battling all year with Ji to see who would win the Order of Merit crown, finished second on the money list and was named the Tour’s rookie-of-the-year. The 17-year-old, winner of the Singapore Ladies Masters, closed with a round featuring four birdies and two bogeys.

“Two-under is okay, but I think four-under can be achievable. It’s a pity I didn’t make more putts. Going into this round I aimed for a win but after the front nine I think a win is far away because I didn’t make putts,” said the Tianjin teenager.

“But this year is very good for me. I have a win. I ranked second on the money list and was Rookie of the Year.”

Xu, 148th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, finished strongly with three birdies over the last six holes for her best finish against a pro field. It was her third top-three finish on the CLPGA Tour this season.

“My front nine wasn’t good. On the back nine, I thought I had a chance to get the top amateur medal and that was my target. I did it,” said the Zhuhai native. “In two tournaments I lost out on being the top amateur, so I’m very happy to get this honour.”