BEIJING - China's Pan Yanghong fired a seven-under 65 on Sunday to overcome a seven-shot deficit and win the $50,000 Wenzhou Orient Yangyi Challenge in Zhejiang province for her first professional victory.

The former weightlifter came out blazing at Orient Wenzhou Yangyi Country Club in a round that included eight birdies and a lone bogey, to set a new China LPGA mark for the biggest comeback in Tour history.

Pan finished with a 54-hole score of nine-under 207, two strokes ahead of compatriot Yang Hongmei, a two-time winner at Wenzhou, who closed with a 70. Huang Meihao, the leader through two rounds, collapsed to a final-round 75 to finish equal third with Li Jiayun (71), three shots off the pace.

"I am a winner, finally. I was in the hunt four times (earlier this year) and finally made it. I am over the moon," said Pan, a 28-year-old Hebei native, who earned $7,500 for the victory. "It's my first win and I'm really happy now. It's a really happy ending."

The Zhuhai-based Pan started with a birdie on the first hole when she sank a six-footer and picked up four more strokes on the front nine to make the turn at five-under 31 in windy conditions.

"I didn't expect it (going) into the final round. After front nine, someone asked me what score I had. I couldn't answer. My focus was really on my game. You know, I played without a carrying leaderboard. I had nothing to think about," she said.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/19/2011 page24)