Hainan, China: Ren Yijia claimed her second title of the CLPG Tour season when the teenage Chinese amateur pulled off a stunning one-stroke victory at the inaugural Wanning Women’s Golf Open.

After starting the day three strokes behind the leaders, the 16-year-old from Dalian closed with a two-under 70 at Oak Forest Golf Club for her third CLPG Tour title over the past two seasons with a winning score of two-under 214.

It was the seventh time an amateur has won on the CLPG Tour this season.

“My goals for this year have definitely been exceeded,” said Ren, who triumphed in the Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Challenge in September after winning in Beijing last year. 

“My long-term goal has always been to compete at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (in April) before turning professional. This victory has moved me one step closer to that goal. After the Augusta tournament, I will very likely consider turning professional,” added Ren, a member of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team that defeated their European Golf Association counterparts in the Solheim Cup-style Patsy Hankins Trophy in the United Arab Emirates in January.

Rookie pro Xu Ying, one of the three overnight co-leaders, closed with a 74 to finish equal runner-up with fellow Chinese pro Zhang Jiwen (73). The two split the winner’s purse with each player receiving RMB62,875.

Shi Yuli, another overnight co-leader, faltered over the final nine holes to finish with a three-over 75 to sit equal fourth with Thais Pimnipa Panthong (71) and Wannasiri Sirisampant (73) on even-par.

Hu Jing, the other overnight co-leader from Hong Kong, China, was equal ninth, four strokes back after a final round 77.

Ren, the 2024 China Amateur Open champion, started her round with five straight pars before making her first birdie of the day at the 369-yard sixth. After another birdie at the ninth to reach the turn at two-under 34, she dropped her only shot of the day at the par-five 13th.

At the par-three 15th, Ren took the outright lead when her nine-iron approach found the upper tier of the green from 139 yards. She converted her 20-foot birdie attempt and would not relinquish top spot.

“I’m really grateful to have won the Wanning Women’s Open. My form had been quite low over the past few weeks, so being able to find myself again this week makes me especially happy,” said Ren, 82nd on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

“My performance today was solid. I made a lot of crucial par saves, especially on the 10th and 18th. I started a bit slowly on the first day this week, so it took some time for my game to warm up. But overall, my mindset this week was very good, relaxed, and playing alongside friends really helped.”

Xu, who with Ren and Zhou Shiyuan (72) helped China to an equal fourth finish at October’s World Amateur Team Championship in Singapore, the country’s best result at the Espirito Santo Trophy, birdied the 511-yard first hole to get to four-under but could not build on that promising beginning.

The 16-year-old Zhuhai native, a three-time winner on the CLPG Tour this year, carded a double-bogey six at the 313-yard ninth before closing with nine consecutive pars.

“I can only say that everything happens for a reason,” said Xu. “The greens here are extremely difficult. I’ve rarely experienced a round like this – nine straight pars without a single birdie. I just couldn’t get the putts to drop. I honestly don’t know what went wrong. I’ll need to review everything carefully.” 

Zhang, in contrast, was delighted with her result, her best finish since turning pro in 2018. Starting the day one shot back of the leaders, the 25-year-old Henan native made a bogey-six on the opening hole. After a double-bogey at the ninth, she finished strongly with birdies at 11 and 16, where she snared a 50-foot putt.

The season concludes next week with the CLPG Tour Women’s Championship at Mission Hills Resort Haikou where rookie pro Wang Zixuan (76) is on the cusp of winning the CLPG Tour points ranking as the top golfer of the year.