Jinan, China: Wang Zixuan made a memorable return to the CLPG Tour, capturing her second pro title with a one-stroke victory at the Shandong Culture and Tourism Jinan Women’s Open.

The 19-year-old Beijing native, who has been playing full-time in Korea this year after topping the CLPG Tour money list last season, closed with a 68 to finish with a 54-hole score of 13-under 203 at Guyun Lake International Golf Club. The victory was worth RMB144,000.

Xu Ying, who started the final round tied for the lead with Wang at nine-under, closed with 69 to finish runner-up. Rookie pro Zhou Shiyuan (71) was equal third with Xue Zixuan (70), six strokes back. Thailand’s Onkanok Soisuwan (68) was one shot further back in fifth place,

Cui Jinghan was the top amateur. The 15-year-old Beijing native closed with five consecutive birdies for a six-under 66 to sit equal sixth with Li Dongmei (70), eight shots off the pace.

Wang, who has made 10 cuts in 19 events during her first season on the KLPGA Tour, made a birdie at the first hole and picked up another stroke at the 353-yard sixth hole to go two shots up on playing partner Xu, who answered with her first birdie at the 411-yard next.

Zhuhai teenager Xu grabbed a share of the lead with a par at the 10th hole as Wang dropped her first shot of the tournament with a bogey six.

Wang then pulled away for good with consecutive birdies starting at the 13th hole before dropping another shot at the 372-yard 15th hole. She rebounded in sinking a clutch 33-foot birdie putt at the 16th before picking up another shot when she put her approach to six feet of the pin at the par-five penultimate hole. Xu also birdied the 17th and picked up another stroke at the last.

“The 17th hole was very important to me because Xu Ying hit the green in two. On that hole she was definitely going to make birdie at worst. If I didn’t make birdie I would only have had a one-shot lead going into the last hole. Making that six-foot birdie putt was key. In that instant, I felt a lot more relaxed,” said Wang who next month will go to the US to play in the second stage of the LPGA Tour qualifying school.

She added: “When you’re in the final group, you’re bound to carry some pressure. Even if you try to unload it, when you stand on the tees your body and mind still bear a certain weight. Being able to play well and shoot under par on the final day already means I’ve completed the task. Getting this kind of result makes me even happier.”

Xu, 241st in the Rolex World Rankings, lamented a missed opportunity to pick up her fourth CLPG Tour title. The rookie pro carded one birdie through 16 holes and narrowly missed a 30-foot eagle putt at the 17th. She made it close with a birdie at the last.

“I was pretty steady in the final round, but I let some chances slip away. On holes 10 and 11 I missed two putting chances, which was a bit of a shame. If I had made them, the situation might have been completely different,” said Xu, who was also runner-up at this month’s Straits Cup Ladies Classic.

“I’m still quite confident going into the LPGA Q-school in October. There are definitely regrets but I have to look forward.”