Liu continues Zhuhai Classic reign with playoff win

Babe Liu successfully retained her Zhuhai Classic crown on Saturday when the rising Chinese Taipei star beat China's Zhang Weiwei in a first-hole playoff in the opening tournament of the 2015 China LPGA Tour season.

Both players finished 54-holes of regulation play at Zhuhai Orient Golf Course at seven-under 209 as Liu closed with a 69 to Zhang's 71 in the RMB500,000 tournament in Guangdong province.

In the extra session, Liu found the back of the green at the 18th hole on her second shot to set up an easy par. National team member Zhang, the first-round leader, however, hit into water with a pitching wedge on her approach for a double-bogey six.

The victory for Liu, a 22-year-old from Taoyuan who won twice on the China LPGA Tour last year, was worth RMB75,000. The win came after a round that included three birdies, two bogeys and eagle three at the ninth hole when she chipped in from 90 yards.

"I could have avoided a playoff and won directly as I missed a very short (three foot) par putt at the 16th hole," said Liu. "But I'm not afraid of a playoff. I'm more experienced than Zhang Weiwei, even though she's a great player. This is a great start for the new season and a great step forward to my goal of winning five times this year to improve my world ranking and qualify for the Olympics."

Zhang, who carded five birdies and a double bogey on her opening nine holes to get to nine-under at the turn, lamented her playoff mistake that cost her the chance of winning her first tournament as a professional.

"I don't know why I hit such a bad shot in the playoff," said the 18-year-old from Hainan Island. "But I played well today. It proved that I am good enough to win. This is my first time to contend for the lead. I think there must be a second time and a third time. I believe next time in the same position I could be better."

South Korea's Chung Ye-na (71) finished the tournament in third, a shot back of the leaders, while China's Shi Yuting (74) and Thailand's Ajira Nualraksa (69) were equal fourth, two shots off the pace.

Overnight leader Shi quickly saw her chances of winning her first pro tournament disappear when she bogeyed the par-four opening hole and then double-bogeyed the par-three third.

"I'm a little bit disappointed," said the 17-year-old Beijinger. "The first three holes I wasn't nervous, even though I was three-over. I still thought I had a good mental game after that and tried my best and didn't lose my confidence."

Supamas Sangchan made a hole-in-one with a seven-iron at the 153-yard eighth hole. Her perfect shot earned the Thai RMB4,000.

China's Zhang Yunjie (72) finished as the top amateur as the Haikou teenager was one-under 215.

Third round leading scores (China unless stated * denotes amateur)

Babe Liu wins in a first-hole playoff

209 - Babe Liu (Chinese Taipei) 69-71-69, Zhang Weiwei 66-72-71

210 - Chung Ye-na (South Korea) 68-71-71

211 - Ajira Nualraksa (Thailand) 70-72-69, Shi Yuting 71-66-74

213 - Ye Ziqi 72-71-70, Lee Ye-seul (South Korea) 71-68-74

215 - Pan Yanhong 76-67-72, Yeh Hsin-ning (Chinese Taipei) 72-73-70, Zhang Yunjie* 73-70-72,

Pavarisa Yoktuan (Thailand) 75-70-70

216 - Chen Cuixia 74-72-70, Xiao Qifeng 74-72-70, Tian Hong 75-70-71, Hsieh Yu-ling (Chinese Taipei) 74-71-71, Lu Yuexia 71-72-73, Chien Pei-yun (Chinese Taipei) 72-73-71

217 - Kuo Ai-chen (Chinese Taipei) 72-74-71, Ainil Bakar (Malaysia) 71-74-72,

Jang So-young (South Korea) 74-72-71, BudsabaSouth Korean Sukapan (Thailand) 74-75-68, Dolnapa Phudthipinij (Thailand) 76-70-71, Narisara Kerdrit (Thailand) 70-75-72, Janya Morrakotapan (Thailand) 72-71-74, Tian Qi* 72-72-73

218 - Li Dan 72-77-69, Chen I-wen (Chinese Taipei) 72-74-72, Walailak Satarak (Thailand) 73-72-73, Supamas Sangchan (Thailand) 71-77-70, Wannasiri Sirisampant (Thailand) 74-71, Suh Bomi (South Korea) 71-71-76, Kang Hyeon-seo (South Korea) 71-72-75, Choi Yeong-won (South Korea) 71-74-73

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