American Angel Yin Claims Victory in LPGA Shanghai

American golfer Angel Yin emerged triumphant in the LPGA Shanghai tournament, defeating her Solheim Cup teammate and world number one, Lilia Vu, in a thrilling play-off. It was Yin’s first victory on the LPGA Tour, achieved in her 159th start. After finishing tied with Vu at 14 under par, Yin secured the win with a birdie at the first play-off hole.

Vu, through a remarkable performance in the final round, managed to force the play-off by shooting a four-under 68. This score allowed her to close the two-shot gap between her and Yin, who had led the tournament going into the final round. Stephanie Meadow from Northern Ireland also had a fantastic round, carding a 65 to finish tied for eighth place, just two shots back from the leaders.

Reflecting on her victory, Yin expressed the challenges of winning, saying, “Throughout the round I was thinking to myself, it’s not easy to win. It’s not easy to win.” The 25-year-old golfer, ranked 35th in the world, earned a prize of $315,000 (£260,000) from the $2.1 million (£1.7 million) prize fund, making it a memorable week for her.

The final day at Qizhong Garden Country Club featured a captivating battle for the lead, with several players exchanging places at the top of the leaderboard. Maja Stark, a Solheim Cup star from Sweden, started the day tied with Yin but slipped back after a level-par round of 72, finishing in a five-way tie for eighth place at 12 under. Meadow, on the other hand, steadily climbed the leaderboard with consecutive rounds of 74, 71, 66, and ultimately a bogey-free 65.

Five players finished just one shot behind Yin and Vu, with Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea posting an impressive eight-under 64. Vu, the reigning British Open champion, reached the clubhouse with a par on the last hole, taking the lead. However, Yin displayed composure and determination, securing the par she needed on the 18th hole while also producing an outstanding approach shot from a fairway bunker. In the subsequent play-off on the same hole, Yin sealed her victory with a three.

The LPGA Shanghai tournament provided an exceptional display of skill and competitiveness, leaving golf fans captivated until the very end.