China’s Feng shoots 68 to claim eighth LPGA title

AFP: China’s Feng Shanshan carded a final-round four-under par 68 to defend her Japan Classic crown and take her eighth LPGA title with a two-stroke win over Ai Suzuki on Sunday.

Feng Shanshan of China poses with the trophy after winning the LPGA Japan Classic golf tournament in Omitama, Ibaraki prefecture, on November 5, 2017. - AFP

Feng became the first player on the LPGA Tour to defend a title this season with a total of 19-under par 197 at the Taiheyo Club’s Minori Course in Ibaraki. “That was my goal, before I started the week, to defend my title,” said Feng. 

“My caddie told me: ‘This week, you’re going to be first. Two weeks ago, you finished third. Last week, you finished second, so you know what comes after that’.”  Feng held a two-shot lead over Japan’s Suzuki going into the final round but had a rollercoaster start, with two bogeys and two birdies in the first four holes. 

The Chinese Olympic bronze medallist tucked away her first par at the fifth and from then on played blemish-free golf. Feng’s sixth birdie of the round at the 17th proved enough to hold off the charging Suzuki, who fought all the way but blew her final chance with a bogey at the 18th when a birdie would have forced a playoff.