LPGA Tour member Xiyu Lin made history this past weekend at the Macalline Women’s China Open on the China LPGA (CLPGA), becoming the first player from mainland China to win her country’s Open since the event’s start in 2006.
Lin, 23, closed with a final-round 72 to finish 4-under 284 in the Fujian Province to come away with a two-stroke victory over Yan Liu. The Guangzhou native earned her seventh career CLPGA win, and her first since defending her title at the 2015 Sanya Ladies Open, a co-sanctioned event with the Ladies European Tour.
Lin, a 2014 LPGA Tour rookie, made 19 of 23 cuts on Tour in 2019, including a season-best tie for ninth at the Aberdeen Standard Investment Ladies Scottish Open. She crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings this past season with a T19 finish at the 2019 Kia Classic. In her career, Lin was a member of Team China at the 2016 UL International Crown, posting a 1-1-1 overall record. She also represented China at the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing 38th.
Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No.23 and 10-time LPGA Tour winner Shanshan Feng finished four strokes back of Lin to finish in solo third. Thai native Mind Muangkumsakul, who finished 10th on the Epson Tour’s 2019 Volvik Race to the Card, finished in a tie for fourth at 1-over 289.
)
)
)
)
