Li wins Beijing Ladies Classic

Li Jiayun earned her second China LPGA Tour victory on Saturday when the Guangdong native birdied the final hole for a 67 to win the Le Coq Sportif Beijing Ladies Classic by one stroke.

Starting the final round two-strokes off the lead, the 27-year-old Li put together a bogey-free round to finish at 13-under 203 over the Beijing Orient Pearl Golf Course. Chinese compatriots Yan Panpan (66) and amateur Sui Xiang (68) were equal runner-up at the championship.

Lee Jeong-hwa (68) was fourth at two shots off the pace, while fellow South Korean Kang Hyeon-seo (69) was a shot further back. Chinese Taipei's Lee Chia-pei, the tournament leader through the first two rounds, closed with a one-over 73 to sit sixth at four strokes back. Li, who was playing in the last group with Lee and Sui, was flawless in the final round in carding five birdies, including the last when she put her approach to within 10 feet of the flag and rolled in the putt.

After losing her playing card in Japan last year, the Guangzhou native said the victory would be a boost for her game on what she could accomplish in future.

"Entering this week my shots weren't soaring. I couldn't enjoy my game. I had planned a celebration party before the final round because I had a hole-in-one yesterday. Now I am really happy, I feel unreal," said Li whose previous win came at the 2014 Shanghai Classic.

"It was quite an up-and-down round. Sui Xiang played great. She made everything within 15 feet and I was behind two shots after 12 holes. But I played steady and did a great job at the end."

With Sui tied for the lead after 13 holes, the 17-year-old hit a 60-degree wedge from 70 yards over the 14th green to bogey the hole. Further trouble came at the 16th hole when her approach found a greenside bunker and resulted in another bogey. She rebounded to birdie the last.

"I lost focus at that (14th) hole. You know, it is okay. I am not unhappy," said the teenager. "I played good and controlled my emotions so I am not unhappy. After this, I'm feeling okay."

Yan, winner of last year's Golden Mountain Challenge in Shandong province, earned her fifth career runner-up finish on the China LPGA Tour circuit with a bogey-free round that featured six birdies. To her frustration, the Qingdao native could only muster par golf over the last four holes.

"I hit many good irons, but if I had better putting maybe I'm a winner, just one shot. I missed three birdie putts from 15th through 17 so a little bit disappointed," said the 29-year-old veteran.

Although she wasn't letting on, it was clear to see the disappointment in the face of overnight leader Lee. The 22-year-old went into the final day with a two stroke advantage but could not get anything going in a round that included two bogeys and a lone birdie at the 17th hole.

"It is my first time to play from the last group, so it is a good learning experience," said Lee who made her first cut on Tour. "It is my first top-10 so it is some kind of breakthrough." Endit