(25 October 2010 – Sanya, Hainan Province, China)
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South Africa&aposs Lee-Anne Pace regained the lead in the Henderson Money List after capturing her fourth title of the season at the Sanya Ladies Open in China overnight. A stunning final round of 6-under par 66 saw her edge ahead of overnight leader, Austria’s Stefanie Michl. Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum finished in outright third while Australia’s Nikki Garrett was alone in fourth.
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rnAt the start of final round Michl at 9-under par, held a two shot lead over England’s Florentyna Parker with Pace four shots adrift of the Austrian, while Garrett was a further shot back at 4-under par. However, it was Pace who came out of the gates the best, posting three birdies in a row from the 2nd hole to reduce the lead to just one shot. Another birdie on the 9th hole saw her join Michl in the lead, who had played the front nine in nine straight pars. Parker had also picked up a shot to be just one shot out of the lead.
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rnMichl stretched her run of pars to 11 holes before clicking into gear with three straight birdies from the 12th hole to regain the lead. Pace matched her birdie on the 13th hole and with four holes to play was two shots behind. Her experience of winning three times this season prevailed over the closing holes. Michl made a bogey at the 15th and Pace rejoined her in the lead with a birdie at the 16th. Two pars were good enough for Pace after Michl made a bogey at the last hole to hand the title to Pace.
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rnAfter her round, Pace said, “I can’t believe it. I’m a little bit overwhelmed. I didn’t quite expect to win today, so I’m just over the moon.” Previous victories at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss open, S4/C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe and Finnair Masters has helped her to a head the Henderson Money List, overtaking Laura Davies, who has also notched four victories. Pace sits €25,962 in front of Davies who will also miss this week’s Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open to play on the LPGA.
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rnGarrett’s fourth place finish was her best since finishing second at the Open de Espana Femenino in 2008. Rebecca Coakley and Karen Lunn both finished in a tie for 35th at 2-over par while Kate Combes also made the cut finishing in a tie for 41st.
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Photo courtesy of LET.
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