Shanshan Feng makes it four wins in five years at Dubai Ladies Masters
Saturday 10 December 2016 14:41, UK
Shanshan Feng powered to her fourth Omega Dubai Ladies Masters victory in five years after firing a sensational 64 on the final day at The Emirates.
Feng began the final round five shots behind overnight leader Felicity Johnson, but her eight-birdie card earned her a two-shot win as Johnson fell away after a horrendous run around the turn, while Charley Hull closed with a superb 65 to finish just two shots behind the champion.
Johnson appeared on course for her first Ladies European Tour title since 2011 when she recovered from an opening bogey with a birdie at the second followed by an eagle at the fifth.
She picked up another shot at the fifth to get to 10 under, but Johnson then bogeyed seven and eight and ran up a double-bogey six at the ninth before another mistake at the 10th effectively ended her challenge.
Johnson's mistakes opened the door for Feng, who got off to a flying start despite the blustery conditions as she made four consecutive birdies from the second and added another at the ninth to turn in 30.
The defending champion continued her rise up the leaderboard with further birdies at 10 and 11, and another at the 14th took her into a commanding lead.
The Chinese powerhouse, the highest ranked played in the field at world No 4, calmly parred the final four holes to set the clubhouse target at 10 under, and that proved more than enough to secure the seventh LET title of her career.
Hull rediscovered the form that swept her to a maiden LPGA Tour victory at the CME Group Tour Championship last month as she carded four birdies in five holes on the outward nine and picked up three further shots coming in to return a faultless 65.
The 20-year-old snatched outright second ahead of English compatriot Florentyna Parker, who birdied three of the last five holes to salvage a 71 and close on six under along with the in-form Aditi Ashok, who fired a 70 and wrapped up the Rookie of the Year honours.
Johnson slipped into a share of seventh on four under after a bogey at the last completed a disappointing 75, while Beth Allen finished top of the Order of Merit - over 100,000euros ahead of Ashok.
