Anna Huang sealed her fourth Ladies European Tour title within 11 months with a two-shot victory at the PIF London Championship at Centurion Club.
It was a great battle between the 17-year-old Canadian and home favourite Charley Hull. Huang, who led from the first round, held a three-shot lead at the start of the final day and made birdies on the sixth and eighth holes before dropping a shot on nine.
Huang made a birdie at 15 to keep her head in front, but found the water on 16 and rolled in a clutch bogey putt, meanwhile Hull made a birdie at the same hole to take the lead.
However, Hull made a mess of the short par-3 17th, four-putting from 25 feet to register a double bogey to put Huang back in front and the Canadian sank her eagle putt on the last – her fourth at that hole this week – to sign for a closing three-under 70 and and 72-hole score of 22-under-par.
“That was probably the most thrilling round of golf of my life, that was crazy. I’m just so shocked,” said Huang, for whom this was a fourth victory on the LET since last September. “I knew coming down 16 that the closing three holes were not easy and I tried to focus on each shot because anything can happen in golf.”
She added: “I can’t believe I made another eagle on 18. I focused on the putt and made a good stroke, and it went in. Charley is such a phenomenal player and playing with her in the past two days in the final group has been really cool.”
In winning at Centurion, Huang, at the age of 17 years, nine months and 10 days, becomes the youngest-ever player to win four LET titles, beating the previous record held by Lydia Ko of 18 years, four months and 20 days.
“A year ago, I was at a really low point in my life and golf wasn’t really fun for me. I was dealing with all these thoughts, but with the help of my family and all my support I was able to get myself back together and push through that part,” said Huang, who picked up a winner’s cheque for just under €260,000.
HULL FALLS SHORT ON HOME SOIL
Hull took solo second on 20-under-par after a final round of 69 that included six birdies. The 30-year-old, who was bidding to win her first tournament on home soil, was left to rue the costly double on 17.
Singapore’s Shannon Tan fired the round of the day with a nine-under 64 to end the week in outright third place on 17-under-par.
Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit was fourth on 15-under-par with Australia’s Kelsey Bennett in fifth one shot further back. England’s Alice Hewson and Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes tied for sixth on 12-under.
For the final leaderboard and prize money payouts, click here.
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