South Korea’s Ji Young Park captured her fifth KLPGA Tour title after a strong opening 36-hole display at Tanah Merah Country Club’s Tampines Course where she shot rounds of 66 and 67 to reach 11-under-par 133.
Due to heavy rain, the third round was cancelled and the tournament result was based on the scores after 36 holes.
Ji Young won by just one shot ahead of the trio of Jung Min Hong, So Young Lee and Hyun Kyung Park.
Only 21 out of 67 players scheduled to tee off the in final round were out on the course when the play was first halted at 8.50am.
With the weather not letting up after a couple of hours, the organisers decided that the result would be decided on 36-hole scores.
“It feels very special indeed to be winning a tournament for the first time in 36 holes,” said Park (Ji Young) after cashing in a cool SGD$198,000 for her feat.
“I did accomplish some come-from-behind victories previously, but never once from a shortened tournament, so it’s really different.
“A win is always fulfilling regardless of how it’s attained. I’m really happy and proud to be the inaugural winner of the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open. I’ve put in a lot of effort to improve my game and I’m so glad that it paid off this week.”
Shannon Tan made the host country proud by emerging as the best-placed amateur, finishing tied for 53rd on one-under-par 143.
The Singaporean is the only one among the seven amateurs in the fray to make the cut after coming back strongly with a 67 on the second day.
“This prize means a lot to me because this is the first time I’ve made the cut at a professional event,” said Tan after receiving the trophy.
“I can’t ask for a better place to accomplish it than in our very own national Open.”
