Photo: Courtesy of China LPGA Tour

 
Zeng Liqi from East China’s Jiangxi Province swept the Guangdong Women’s Open in Zhuhai by a three-stroke margin on Friday, claiming her fourth China LPGA Tour title. 

The 17-year-old closed with a five-under 67 over the Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club composite course to finish on nine-under 207 for her second victory of the year. The win was worth 30,000 yuan ($4136.62).

Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (69) finished runner-up, one shot ahead of compatriot Kusuma Meechai (70). China’s Cao Xinyu (70) and Zhang Yahui (73) were the top amateurs in equal fourth at seven strokes back.

Zeng, winner of last month’s Beijing Women’s Challenge, started the day with a one-stroke lead and hung on in a tournament where she never trailed throughout the 54-hole event. Her final round featured six birdies, including two over the final two holes, and a lone dropped shot at the 16th hole where she suffered her sixth three-putt bogey of the week.

“I played an easy game and felt no pressure until the 15th hole where Sherman made a great birdie. I could hardly control the fluctuations going on in my mind at the time. At the 16th hole, I made another three putts for a bogey from 20 feet. But I didn’t allow victory to slip from my grasp,” said Zeng, who is now the youngest player in CLPGA Tour history to achieve four wins at 17 years, one month and seven days.