Shanshan Feng unstoppable in 12-shot win at Dubai Ladies Masters
Saturday 12 December 2015 16:28, UK
Shanshan Feng underlined her status as the Ladies European Tour No 1 as she romped to a record-breaking 12-shot victory at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.
Feng was in a class of her own throughout the week at The Emirates and faced little opposition as she collected the season-ending title for the third time in four years, matching her tournament-record score of 21 under par with a flawless final-round 66.
The world No 6 began the final day five shots ahead following three consecutive 67s, and she wasted little time in extending her advantage when she reeled off three birdies in four holes from the second.
Feng engaged cruise control and parred the next seven before breaking the sequence with further birdies at 13 and 14, and she rounded off a dominant performance by pitching to three feet at the last and rolling in the putt.
The Chinese powerhouse dropped only three shots over the 72 holes and smashed the record for the biggest winning margin in the event, previously held by Annika Sorenstam when she won by six in the inaugural edition in 2006.
"Coming to this tournament my goal was a top-five finish and I'm delighted to exceed my expectations. Dubai has been really good me, a lucky place, indeed," said Feng after clinching her 15th professional title.
"It wasn't easy out there in the windy conditions, but I kept my composure and got the job done in the end."
Thailand's Thidapa Suwannapura won the race for second despite stumbling to a closing one-over 73, but her score of nine under was one better than Mel Reid.
The English Solheim Cup star needed treatment for a back problem during her final round, but she recovered from her ailment and an outward 37 with four birdies on the back nine to sign off with a battling 69.
Reid's Solheim Cup team-mate Caroline Masson was a further shot adrift following a 70, and the German shared fourth with Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand, and French star Jade Schaeffer.
Meanwhile, Emily Kristine Pedersen collected the Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year award after comfortably holding off closest rival and fellow Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
Pedersen sealed the award with a closing three-under 69 to finish on three under while Madsen, who needed a top-two finish to snatch the honour away from her compatriot, was among the also-rans on two over par.
