Angel Yin secured a first career victory on the LPGA Tour by defeating world no. 1, Lilia Vu, in a playoff at LPGA Shanghai.
Yin had held a two-shot overnight lead alongside Maja Stark going into the final round, but Vu’s impressive four-under 68 in the last round, which included six birdies, led to the playoff at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club course.
But the 25-year-old American triumphed over her Solheim Cup teammate on the first playoff hole, after they both finished the tournament at 14 under. By sinking a birdie, she claimed her first victory on the LPGA Tour in 159 starts.
“Throughout the round I was thinking to myself, it’s not easy to win. It’s not easy to win,” Yin said.
“It’s been a special week.”
There was a five-way tie for third place with South Korea’s Choi Hye-jin, Thai pair Pavarisa Yoktuan and Ariya Jutanugarn, China’s Yu Liu, and Germany’s Esther Henseleit all finishing on 13 under.
Stark who had held the lead alongside Yin dropped off dramatically on the final day making an even-par final round to finish the tournament tied for eight with compatriot Madelene Sagström, Australia’s Karis Davidson, Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow, and Japan’s Yuna Nishimura.
This event marked the LPGA’s comeback to China for the first time since 2019, following the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The next event on the LPGA Tour is the BMW Ladies Championship taking place between 19-22 October at Seowon Valley Country Club in South Korea.