Dubai Ladies Masters: China's Feng seals double triumph

Shanshan Feng hardly worked up sweat as the world number five cantered to a five-shot victory in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club on Saturday.

Five in front overnight, the gifted golfer closed with a two-under 70 to finish at 19 under in delightful conditions for her second win in three appearances in the season-ending Ladies European Tour event.

“I am really delighted to win for the second time in Dubai and follow in the footsteps of Annika (Sorenstam) - the only other two-time winner of the tournament - and that makes me feel really proud of myself,” said the 25-year-old from Guangzhou after receiving the winner’s trophy from Mariam Al Roomi, UAE Minister of Social Affairs in the presence of Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in Dubai, and representatives of the sponsors.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda birdied the final hole to return a 69 to take solo second on 14-under, one ahead of Caroline Masson of Germany with Anna Nordqvist of Sweden in solo fourth one stroke back.

England’s Charley Hull sealed the 2014 ISPS HANDA Order of Merit after tying for fifth place with compatriots Liz Young and Melissa Reid, as well as Danish duo Nicole Broch Larsen and Malene Jorgensen.

Reid was second overnight after a third round 65, but she faded out of contention after dropping four shots on the front nine.
She did pick up three birdies coming home, but it was too late in the day.

“It's good to win,” said Hull. “I didn't really know coming into this week. Yeah, just the back nine today, I just thought don't make any silly mistakes. I doubled the first but got two birdies on the bounce back so pretty happy with myself there.

“I went double, birdie, birdie, bogey, birdie. So it was an interesting front nine. But towards the end of the back nine, I really got the feeling with my woods off the tee. I started feeling so much more confident. Just working on getting a bit more width on my swing. I definitely feel a lot more confident.”

It was Feng, who called the shots almost at will, though she fell short of her intended target of reaching the 22-under mark she needed to break her own record for the lowest under par winning score she posted in 2012.

Feng birdied the third, seventh and eighth on the Majlis course to reach 20-under and was seven strokes clear after as many holes.

With the title firmly in her grasp, she bogeyed the 11th and 15th but birdied the 17th and finished with a tap-in par to round off a successful week in Dubai.

“I think if I would get to 22 under, then I didn’t think anybody would catch up. So I was going for 22, but of course I didn’t. I still think I did well,” said Feng, adding that she would visit Dubai’s malls for some retail therapy after the round.

In the race for the Omega Rookie of the Year, Amy Boulden from Wales held off the challenge of Sally Watson and Nicole Broch Larsen to take the prestigious title.

Broch Larsen gave a fantastic chase, but could not catch Boulden, who tied for 24th.

“It was one of my goals from when I turned pro, to win Rookie of the Year. I thought it was going to be quite tough this year not having a full card. I wasn't sure how many events I was going to be playing in but starting the year well has helped me a lot. It’s a real honour to win and join the prestigious list of former winners, including Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam and Charley Hull.”





 

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