Amateur Cheng wins in Xiamen in China debut

Chinese Taipei amateur Cheng Ssu-chia captured her second victory of the year against a pro field on Sunday when the 17-year-old closed with 68 to win the inaugural Xiamen Open International by three shots in Fujian province.

Cheng, who won an event on the Taiwan LPGA Tour in August, finished 10-under 206 over the Orient (Xiamen) Golf and Country Club layout for her fourth victory against pro fields in the past two years.

Runner-up Marion Ricordeau collected the 37,500 euros winner's purse at the co-sponsored tournament between the China LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour (LET) when the French pro closed with a 69.

American Beth Allen (70) and France's Alexandra Vilatte (70) were equal third, while US LPGA Tour regular Lin Xiyu (70) was the top Chinese player, a shot further back in equal fifth with France's Joanne Klatten (71) and England's Liz Young (71) at the 250,000 euro event.

Cheng became the fourth amateur to win on the China LPGA Tour and the sixth on the LET circuit.

Starting the day as the joint leader, Cheng registered birdies on three of her first four holes and never looked back. She would finish her round with five birdies against a lone bogey.

"It's my first trip here (to Xiamen) and it's my first LET event. I did not have high expectation entering this week. I thought it would be a great result if I finished in the top 10," said Cheng, currently 22nd for her age group in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

"I am excited that I finally won because LET players are very competitive. So far it's my largest win. I played great this week. I should thank Orient Golf and the China LPGA for the invitation extend to me," said the teenager who received a cake from Orient Golf founder TK Pen following her round to celebrate her birthday last month.

"Next year I will turn pro and try to qualify for the US LPGA Tour and follow Yani Tseng's footprint. She is my idol," she said.

The 28-year-old Ricordeau posted her best finish at a LET event in her first visit to China and expressed her admiration for Cheng.

"It's impressive. I was fighting so hard on the course and she's 10-under. I'm really impressed because the course is not that easy and I haven't seen her play but she must be really good," she said.

"The greens have lots of grain and are quick and tricky. You never get a flat lie on the fairway to the pin so you have to think about all your shots and it's not that easy to make lots of birdies."

China No. 2 Lin started the day three shots back and looked as if she would make a run after a birdie on the opening hole to get to four-under. But after winning back-to-back tournaments in Hainan Island the previous two weeks, the 18-year-old could only card one more birdie at the par-four sixth and played par golf back to the clubhouse.

"I felt a little bit frustrated because I wasn't able to make birdies at the back nine for two days in a row. I missed at least three birdies within 10 feet. But I also made some nice par putts, so it's okay," said the Guangdong native.

"The score is decent. I hope I finish high enough to stay in the top three of CLPGA's Order of Merit which will help me to qualify the US Women's Open. It's important for me."

South African Connie Chen and Belgian Chloe Leurquin, the overnight joint leaders with Cheng, each struggled to a final round 76 to finish equal 11th, eight strokes back.